Agencies and Commissions January 7, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Applicants seek an order to permit, under specified circumstances, the recovery of certain credits previously applied to purchase payments made under: (i) Certain deferred variable annuity contracts, described herein, that Principal Life issues through the Account (the contracts, including certain data pages and endorsements, are collectively referred to as the ``Contracts''), and (ii) contracts that Principal Life may issue in the future through the Account, any of its other existing separate accounts, or any separate accounts that it may establish in the future (collectively, ``Future Accounts''), which contracts are substantially similar in all material respects to the Contracts (the ``Future Contracts''). Applicants also request that the order being sought extend to any other broker-dealer controlling, controlled by, or under common control with Principal Life, whether existing or created in the future, that serves as a distributor or principal underwriter of the Contracts or any Future Contracts offered through the Account or any Future Accounts (collectively, ``Affiliated Broker-Dealers'').

The Committee is proposing to add to the Procurement List a product and services to be furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. Comments Must Be Received On or Before: February 6, 2005.

NARA is giving public notice that the agency proposes to request use of a voluntary survey of visitors to the Public Vaults, which is part of the National Archives Experience in Washington, DC. The information will be used to determine how the various components of the Public Vaults affect visitors' level of satisfaction with the Public Vaults and how effectively the venue communicates that records matter. The information will support adjustments in this offering that will improve the overall visitor experience. The public is invited to comment on the proposed information collection pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506 (c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 which provides opportunity for public comment on new or revised data collections, the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) will publish periodic summaries of proposed data collections. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed information collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information has practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the RRB's estimate of the burden of the collection of the information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden related to the collection of information on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Title and Purpose of information collection: Supplemental Information on Accident and Insurance; OMB 3220-0036. Under section 12(o) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA), the Railroad Retirement Board is entitled to reimbursement of the sickness benefits paid to a railroad employee if the employee receives a sum or damages for the same infirmity for which the benefits are paid. Section 2(f) of the RUIA requires employers to reimburse the RRB for days in which salary, wages, pay for time lost or other remuneration is later determined to be payable. Reimbursements under section 2(f) generally result from the award of pay for time lost or the payment of guaranteed wages. The RUIA prescribes that the amount of benefits paid be deducted and held by the employer in a special fund for reimbursement to the RRB. The RRB currently utilizes Form(s) SI-1c, (Supplemental Information on Accident and Insurance), SI-5 (Report of Payments to Employee Claiming Sickness Benefits Under the RUIA), ID-3s (Request for Lien Information), ID-3s-1, (Lien Information Under Section 12(o) of the RUIA), ID-3u (Request for Section 2(f) Information), ID-30k (Form Letter Asking Claimant for Additional Information on Injury or Illness), and ID-30k-1 (Request for Supplemental Information on Injury or Illness-3rd Party), to obtain the necessary information from claimants and railroad employers. The RRB proposes a minor change to Form ID-3s to add an ``information only'', column. Completion is required to obtain benefits. One response is requested of each respondent.

After this first round notice and public comment period, OGE plans to submit the executive branch qualified trust model certificates and model trust documents to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for two-year extension of approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act. In all, a total of twelve OGE model certificates and model documents for qualified trusts are involved. OGE is proposing no changes to these forms.

Under 39 CFR 501.1, only manufacturers and distributors authorized by the Postal Service,\(tm)\ may manufacture and/or distribute postage meters in the United States. This final rule provides that the Postal Service may revoke or suspend, wholly or in part, authorization to distribute postage meters if the authorized entity or its agent makes or distributes false or misleading statements about actions or proposed actions of the Postal Service regarding the postage meter program. In addition, minor editorial changes were made to correct references to sections of part 501 that were in error.

This rule changes the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) to eliminate the signature waiver option for Signature Confirmation service under DMM S919.1.10. The Postal Service is making this change because the signature waiver option is no longer necessary.