June 20, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Automated Systems Management Branch, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers the general public and other Federal agencies the opportunity to comment on an existing information collection request (ICR) 3206-0040, Occupational Questionnaire, OPM Form 1203-FX. 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 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 the 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 President has signed an Executive Order containing the 2013 pay schedules for certain Federal civilian employees. The rates of pay for these employees will not be increased in 2013 and remain at 2010 levels. This notice serves as documentation for the public record.

The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) requires that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) periodically review existing regulations that have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, such as small businesses, small organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions. This plan describes how NMFS will perform this review and describes the regulations that are being proposed for review during the current review-cycle.

EPA is proposing to add a nonylphenol category to the list of toxic chemicals subject to reporting under section 313 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1986 and section 6607 of the Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) of 1990. EPA is proposing to add this chemical category to the EPCRA section 313 list pursuant to its authority to add chemicals and chemical categories because EPA believes this category meets the EPCRA section 313(d)(2)(C) toxicity criterion. Based on a review of the available production and use information, the members of the nonylphenol category are expected to be manufactured, processed, or otherwise used in quantities that would exceed the EPCRA section 313 reporting thresholds.

NMFS announces the receipt of an application for an exempted fishing permit (EFP) from Puerto Rico's Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (PR DNER). If granted, the EFP would authorize the PR DNER to harvest reef fish by hook-and-line gear at 10 stations off the west coast and 1 station off the east coast of Puerto Rico in Federal waters. All reef fish caught during the duration of the EFP, including undersized and seasonally prohibited reef fish species, would be retained, except for goliath grouper, Nassau grouper, and any parrotfish species. The purpose of the exempted fishing activities is to obtain additional life history information for the Caribbean Fishery Management Council (Council) and NMFS to use when making future management decisions for Caribbean reef fish.

This document announces the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) responses to Agency Clearance requests, in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR chapter 15.

NMFS implements accountability measures (AMs) for commercial greater amberjack in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish fishery for the 2013 fishing year through this temporary final rule. Commercial landings for greater amberjack, as estimated by the Science and Research Director (SRD), are projected to reach the commercial ACT (commercial quota) on July 1, 2013. Therefore, NMFS closes the commercial sector for greater amberjack in the Gulf on July 1, 2013, and it will remain closed until the start of the next fishing season, January 1, 2014. This closure is necessary to protect the Gulf greater amberjack resource.

The Executive Office of the President, through the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (``IPEC''), is beginning an interagency review directed at strengthening the procedures and practices used during enforcement of exclusion orders issued by the U.S. International Trade Commission (``ITC''). The interagency working group will review existing procedures that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (``CBP'') and the ITC use to evaluate the scope of exclusion orders and work to ensure the process and criteria utilized during exclusion order enforcement activities are transparent, effective, and efficient. Through this request for public comment, IPEC invites public input and recommendations in support of the Administration's interagency review of exclusion order enforcement processes called for by the 2013 Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement [and the White House Task Force on High-Tech Patents].

The Farm Credit Administration adopted a final rule that amends its liquidity regulation to strengthen liquidity risk management at Farm Credit System (System) banks, improve the quality of assets in their liquidity reserves, and bolster the ability of System banks to fund their obligation and continue operations during times of economic, financial or market adversity. 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.

This final rule amends HUD's regulations governing the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Program (Section 202) and the Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program (Section 811) to streamline the requirements applicable to Section 202 and Section 811 mixed-finance developments. This rule removes restrictions on the portions of developments not funded through capital advances, lifts barriers on participation in the development of the projects, and eliminates burdensome funding requirements. These changes are anticipated to attract private capital and the expertise of the private developer community to create attractive and affordable supportive housing developments for the elderly and for persons with disabilities. Through this rule, HUD also brings up-to-date certain regulations governing all Section 202 and Section 811 developments, not solely mixed-finance developments. Overall, the changes made by this rule permit greater flexibility in the design of Section 202/811 units, and extend the duration of the availability of capital advance funds. This final rule is part of a larger effort to reform the Section 202 and Section 811 programs, which will include implementation of the changes made to these programs by the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2010 and the Section 202 Supportive Housing for the Elderly Act of 2010. A subsequent rule, which will focus on the statutory changes that require rulemaking for implementation, is expected to be published in 2013.