April 3, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) recently concluded a twelve-month pilot program called Patents for Humanity to incentivize the use of patented technologies for humanitarian purposes, culminating with an awards ceremony in April 2013. Following the success of this pilot, the USPTO is continuing Patents for Humanity as an annual awards competition. The USPTO will announce an application period each year of the competition. For 2014, applications will be accepted from April 15 to September 15, 2014. Participants will submit program applications describing what actions they have taken with their patented technology to either address humanitarian needs among an impoverished population or further research by others on humanitarian technologies. Applications will be accepted in five categories: (1) Medicine, (2) Nutrition, (3) Sanitation, (4) Household Energy, and (5) Living Standards. Independent judges will review the program applications, and Federal employees from other agencies will recommend awards based on these reviews. For the 2014 competition, two types of awards will be made: Patents for Humanity Awards and honorable mentions. The Patents for Humanity Award is the top award for applicants best representing the Patents for Humanity principles. Patents for Humanity Award recipients in 2014 will receive a certificate to accelerate select matters before the USPTO and public recognition for their efforts, including an award ceremony sponsored by the USPTO. Honorable mentions in 2014 will receive accelerated examination of one patent application and a featured writeup on the USPTO Web site. A portion of honorable mentions may be awarded for the best up and coming technologies. The USPTO expects to award roughly ten Patents for Humanity Awards and up to twenty honorable mentions in 2014. The exact number of awards may vary depending on the number and quality of program applications received. Types of awards for subsequent years will be announced with the application period in the Federal Register. Patents for Humanity certificates awarded through the 2014 competition can be redeemed to accelerate one of the following matters: An ex parte reexamination proceeding, including one appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) from that proceeding; a patent application, including one appeal to the PTAB from that application; or an appeal to the PTAB of a claim twice rejected in a patent application or reissue application or finally rejected in an ex parte reexamination, without accelerating the underlying matter which generated the appeal. Inter partes reexaminations and interference proceedings are not eligible for acceleration, nor are post-grant reviews, inter partes reviews, covered business method reviews, derivation proceedings, or supplemental examinations. Certificates awarded are not transferable to other parties.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) is announcing its intention to request renewed authority for the collection of information for the Form OSM-23, Restriction on financial interests of state employees and its associated regulations.

As a result of the correction of a significant ministerial error, the Department of Commerce (the Department) preliminarily determines that certain oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from Taiwan are not being, nor are likely to be, sold in the United States at less than fair value, as provided in section 733(b) of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended (the Act). The period of investigation is July 1, 2012, through June 30, 2013. Interested parties are invited to comment on this amended preliminary determination.

The Department of the Army is publishing this notice to announce the following Federal advisory committee meeting of the Explore Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee on Arlington National Cemetery (ACANC). The meeting is open to the public. For more information about the Committee and the Honor Subcommittee, please visit https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/AboutUs/FocusAreas.aspx.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, and as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or the Commission) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection. Comments are requested concerning: Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology; and ways to further reduce the information collection burden on small business concerns with fewer than 25 employees. The FCC may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the PRA that does not display a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number.

Applicant, a closed-end investment company, seeks an order declaring that it has ceased to be an investment company. Applicant transferred its assets to Lazard Alternative Strategies 1099 Fund, and on December 31, 2013, made a distribution to its shareholders based on net asset value. Expenses of $200,000 incurred in connection with the reorganization were paid by Lazard Asset Management LLC, applicant's investment adviser. Filing Dates: The application was filed on January 30, 2014, and amended on March 26, 2014. Applicant's Address: 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112-6300.

NMFS publishes a regulatory amendment to revise the identification marking requirements for fishing gear marker buoys (buoys) used in Federal waters off Alaska. This final rule eliminates the requirement that hook-and-line, longline pot, and pot-and-line buoys be marked with the vessel's name. The requirement to mark buoys with either the vessel's Federal fisheries permit number or Alaska Department of Fish and Game number remains in effect. This action is needed to remove a regulatory requirement that is unnecessary. This action is intended to promote the goals and objectives of the Magnuson- Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act), the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area (BSAI Groundfish FMP), the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (GOA Groundfish FMP), and other applicable laws.

We are providing notice of SSR 14-1p. This SSR provides guidance on how we develop evidence to establish that a person has a medically determinable impairment of chronic fatigue syndrome and how we evaluate chronic fatigue syndrome in disability claims and continuing disability reviews under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act.

Changes have been made to the AIP grant assurances to conform the list of General Federal Requirements to the correct numbering of some of the documents that recently changed, to add recent legislation, to revise Assurance 10 to conform to current statute, to clarify that Assurance 25, Airport Revenues, applies when an airport sponsor takes a grant for airport planning, and to note that Assurance 37 applies to airport concession disadvantaged business enterprises. Assurance 20 of the Non-Airport Sponsor Assurances for Non-Airport Sponsors Undertaking Noise Compatibility Program Projects is also revised to delete paragraphs which discussed land purchased for airport development. In addition, on April 24, 2013, the Secretary of Transportation signed the DOT Standard Title VI Assurances and Non-Discrimination Provisions, Order 1050.2A (Title VI Assurances). The Title VI Assurances were incorporated into the FAA Office of Civil Rights Order 1400.11, the ``Nondiscrimination in Federally-Assisted Programs at the Federal Aviation Administration Order,'' which was published on August 27, 2013. The changes to the AIP grant assurances in this Notice incorporate the Title VI Assurances.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is approving a State Implementation Plan (SIP) revision submitted by the State of Delaware pursuant to the Clean Air Act (CAA). Whenever new or revised national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) are promulgated, the CAA requires states to submit a plan for the implementation, maintenance, and enforcement of such NAAQS. The plan is required to address basic program elements, including, but not limited to regulatory structure, monitoring, modeling, legal authority, and adequate resources necessary to assure attainment and maintenance of the standards. These elements are referred to as infrastructure requirements. The State of Delaware has made a submittal addressing the infrastructure requirements for the 2008 ozone NAAQS.

The Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The proposed information collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a proposed extension of a collection of information that DOE is developing for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) 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; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

On May 23, 2013, we, the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board), established the Rail Vehicles Access Advisory Committee (Committee) to advise us on revising and updating our accessibility guidelines issued pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act for transportation vehicles that operate on fixed guideway systems (e.g., rapid rail, light rail, commuter rail, intercity rail, and high speed rail). The Committee will hold its third meeting on the following dates and times.

The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB or the Board), following an internal review of MSPB regulations and after consideration of comments received from MSPB stakeholders, is proposing to amend its rules of practice and procedure by amending its regulations governing how jurisdiction is established over Board appeals.

In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Arizona Resource Advisory Council (RAC) will meet in Phoenix, Arizona, as indicated below.

In accordance with Sec. 103(c)(6) of the Presidio Trust Act, 16 U.S.C. 460bb appendix, and in accordance with the Presidio Trust's bylaws, notice is hereby given that a public meeting of the Presidio Trust Board of Directors will be held commencing 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2014, at the Observation Post, 211 Lincoln Boulevard, Presidio of San Francisco, California. The Presidio Trust was created by Congress in 1996 to manage approximately eighty percent of the former U.S. Army base known as the Presidio, in San Francisco, California. The purposes of this meeting are to take action on the minutes of a previous Board meeting, to provide the Chairperson's report, to provide the Executive Director's report, to provide a remediation program update, to provide an Officers' Club update and take action on a related construction project, to provide a Presidio Gateway project update, and to receive public comment in accordance with the Trust's Public Outreach Policy. Individuals requiring special accommodation at this meeting, such as needing a sign language interpreter, should contact Mollie Matull at 415-561-5300 prior to April 17, 2014. Time: The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2014.

The Chippewa National Forest (NF) Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) will meet in Walker, Minnesota. The committee is authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act (Pub. L. 110-343) (the Act) and operates in compliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. The purpose of the committee is to improve collaborative relationships and to provide advice and recommendations to the Forest Service concerning projects and funding consistent with the title II of the Act. The meeting is open to the public. The purpose of the meeting is review RAC members' roles and responsibilities, review project proposals, and develop project priorities.