May 13, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) will be meeting at the time and location listed above. The meeting will be a continuation of the April 11, 2013 meeting, which was adjourned due to lack of a quorum. The BBG will receive and consider a report from the Governance Committee regarding the compliance progress with the recommendations in the Office of Inspector General's inspection report of the BBG, as well as a BBG Board staffing plan. The BBG will receive and consider a progress report from the Strategy and Budget Committee, including the 2013 language service review process and the BBG strategic plan update. A complete audio recording and a verbatim transcript of the meeting will promptly be made available for public observation on the BBG's Web site at www.bbg.gov. Information regarding this meeting, including any updates or adjustments to its starting time, can also be found on the Agency's Web site.

The Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU) is currently reviewing its regulations governing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) Verification Program. OSDBU intends to improve the regulations to provide greater clarity, to streamline the program, and to encourage more VOSBs to apply for verification. By issuing this notice of proposed rulemaking, OSDBU seeks comments on how best to approach this undertaking. Although OSDBU identified specific issues for discussion below, it encourages commenters to discuss any issue related to improving these specific regulations and the program.

We are proposing to allow, under certain conditions, the cold treatment of imported fruits and vegetables upon arrival at the MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, Mascoutah, IL. We have determined that there are biological barriers at this port that, along with certain safeguards, would prevent the introduction of fruit flies and other insect pests into the United States in the unlikely event that they escape from shipments of fruits or vegetables before the fruits or vegetables undergo cold treatment. This action would facilitate the importation of fruit requiring cold treatment while continuing to provide protection against the introduction of fruit flies and other insect pests into the United States.

We are amending the black stem rust quarantine and regulations by adding two varieties to the list of rust-resistant Berberis species and varieties and one variety to the list of rust-resistant Mahonia species and varieties. This action will allow for the interstate movement of these newly developed varieties without unnecessary restrictions.

This final rule implements EPA's decision to revoke certain testing requirements promulgated under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) for the High Production Volume (HPV) chemical substance, benzenesulfonic acid, [[4-[[4-(phenylamino)phenyl][4-(phenylimino)-2,5- cyclohexadien-1-ylidene]methyl]phenyl]amino]- (CAS No. 1324-76-1), also known as C.I. Pigment Blue 61. After publication in the Federal Register of a final rule requiring testing for C.I. Pigment Blue 61, EPA received adequate, existing studies which eliminated the need for testing.

NMFS is prohibiting retention of big skate in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA). This action is necessary because the 2013 total allowable catch of big skate in the Central Regulatory Area of the GOA has been reached.

This notice announces an open meeting of the Commercial Heating, Ventilation, and Air-conditioning (HVAC), Water Heating (WH), and Refrigeration Certification Working Group (Commercial Certification Group). The purpose of the Commercial Certification Group is to undertake a negotiated rulemaking to discuss and, if possible, reach consensus on proposed certification and compliance requirements for commercial HVAC, WH, and refrigeration equipment, as authorized by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975, as amended.

FRA is issuing this notice to advise the public that FRA, the Olmsted County (Minnesota) Regional Railroad Authority (OCRRA), and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will jointly prepare a Tier One Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate potential passenger rail alternatives for the Rochester, Minnesota to Twin Cities, Minnesota Passenger Rail Corridor (the Corridor) in Olmsted, Dodge, Goodhue, Rice, Dakota, Ramsey, and Hennepin Counties in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The Tier One EIS will analyze environmental impacts for reasonable corridor-level passenger rail route alternatives between Rochester and the Twin Cities. The Tier One EIS will also examine passenger rail service levels, including variations in train frequency, and trip time. FRA is issuing this Notice to invite interested parties, including the public and resource agencies, to comment about the proposed scope of the EIS; to provide information on the nature of the proposed action, including the purpose and need for the proposed action; and to invite public participation in the Tier One EIS process.

The Retirement Services, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on a revised information collection request (ICR) 3206-0140, Representative Payee Application (RI 20-7) and Information Necessary for a Competency Determination (RI 30-3). As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35) as amended by the Clinger-Cohen Act (Pub. L. 104-106), OPM is soliciting comments for this collection. The information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on November 29, 2012 at Volume 77 FR 71200 allowing for a 60-day public comment period. No comments were received for this information collection. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments that: 1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of OPM, including whether the information will have practical utility; 2. Evaluate the accuracy of OPM's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; 3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses.

The Retirement Services, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on an existing information collection request (ICR) 3206-0211, Reemployment of Annuitants. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35) as amended by the Clinger-Cohen Act (Pub. L. 104-106), OPM is soliciting comments for this collection. The information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on November 2, 2012 at Volume 77 FR 66189 allowing for a 60-day public comment period. No comments were received for this information collection. The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments that: 1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of OPM, including whether the information will have practical utility; 2. Evaluate the accuracy of OPM's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; 3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses.

The Forest Service is amending its internal directives for concessions with privately owned improvements that operate under special use permit on National Forest System (NFS) lands. Subject to certain conditions, the final directive allows holders of concession permits to advertise (1) inside buildings and other interior spaces they own; (2) on chairlift restraining bars in conjunction with trail map displays; (3) at designated ski/snowboard racing sites; and (4) at venues for short-term competitive events. In addition, the final directive allows concessioners to advertise the services and accommodations they offer at the concession site. The final directive also encourages third-party sponsorships of events, projects, and programs to assist the Agency in promoting public participation in or awareness of management of NFS lands. The revised direction promotes consistency in the special uses program by clarifying where advertising is permitted or prohibited and by describing how sponsorships may be utilized and how sponsors may be recognized. The final directive also adds several definitions to FSM 2340 to aid in understanding terms used in this directive.

This document contains proposed regulations that provide guidance to Blue Cross and Blue Shield organizations, and certain other health care organizations, on computing and applying the medical loss ratio added to the Internal Revenue Code by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. This document also contains a request for comments and provides notice of a public hearing on these proposed regulations.

In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects to be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. Written comments and/or suggestions from the public and affected agencies are invited on one or more of the following points: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the function of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) The accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. To Submit Comments and for Further Information: To obtain a copy of the data collection plans and instruments, submit comments in writing, or request more information on the proposed project, contact: Dorothy Farrell, Center for Strategic Scientific Initiatives, Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research, National Cancer Institute, 31 Center Drive, Bldg. 31 A, Rm. 10A52, Bethesda, MD 20892 or call non-toll-free number 301-496-5652 or Email your request, including your address to: farrelld@mail.nih.gov. Formal requests for additional plans and instruments must be requested in writing. Comment Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection are best assured of having their full effect if received within 60 days of the date of this publication. Proposed Collection: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer Platform Partnership Scientific Progress Reports, 0925-NEW, National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH). Need and Use of Information Collection: National Institutes of Health grantees are required to submit interim and final progress reports and other post-award documents associated with the monitoring, oversight, and closeout of an award. This submission represents a request for OMB to approve new program specific progress report guidelines for Cancer Nanotechnology Platform Partnerships (CNPP) awarded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The CNPPs are part of the Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer, a network of awards funded by NCI to promote the application of nanotechnology to cancer research and care. The proposed guidelines request information about award performance related to trans-Alliance collaboration, scientific milestones, progress towards clinical translation and technology commercialization, and education and outreach efforts. The report also gathers information on leveraged funding, patents and publications. The information is gathered every six months. This information is needed to monitor the performance of this special program within NCI, funded through Requests for Applications (RFA CA-09-013, released May 29, 2009) using the cooperative agreement mechanism (U01). The information will be used to monitor individual award performance and the effectiveness of the program as a whole. The respondents are the Principal Investigators of the awards, along with their institutional business officials. The awards are administered by and the reports reviewed by the Office of Cancer Nanotechnology Research (OCNR), part of the Center for Strategic Scientific Initiatives within NCI. OMB approval is requested for 3 years. There are no costs to respondents other than their time. The estimated annualized burden hours are 72.

EPA is proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove portions of a State Implementation Plan (SIP) submission from the State of Montana that are intended to demonstrate that its SIP meets certain interstate transport requirements of the Clean Air Act (``Act'' or ``CAA'') for the 2006 fine particulate matter (``PM2.5'') National Ambient Air Quality Standards (``NAAQS''). This submission addresses the requirement that Montana's SIP contain adequate provisions to prohibit air emissions from adversely affecting another state's air quality through interstate transport. Specifically, EPA is proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove the portion of the Montana SIP submission that addresses the CAA requirement prohibiting emissions from Montana sources from significantly contributing to nonattainment of the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS in any other state or interfering with maintenance of the 2006 PM2.5 NAAQS by any other state. EPA is also proposing to partially approve and partially disapprove the portion of Montana's submission that addresses the CAA requirement that SIPs contain provisions to insure compliance with specific other CAA requirements relating to interstate and international pollution abatement. The partial disapprovals, if finalized, would not trigger an obligation for EPA to promulgate a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) to address these interstate transport requirements as EPA is determining that the existing SIP is adequate to meet the specific CAA requirements.

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. HUD is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal.

NMFS, Southeast Region, in collaboration with the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Council) intends to prepare a DEIS to describe and analyze a range of alternatives for management actions to be included in Amendment 39 to the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (Amendment 39). The purpose of this NOI is to inform the public of upcoming opportunities to provide comments on the actions to be addressed in the DEIS, as specified in this notice.

As authorized under the provisions of the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carson City District Office will temporarily close certain public land near Stead, Nevada, to all public use to provide for public safety during the 2013 Reno Air Racing Association Pylon Racing Seminar and the Reno National Championship Air Races.

We are advising the public that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service plans to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to address the need for a national feral swine damage management program to protect agriculture, natural resources, property, and human health and safety. This notice identifies potential issues and alternatives that will be studied in the EIS, requests public comments to further delineate the scope of the alternatives and environmental impacts and issues, and provides notice of public meeting.