Agencies and Commissions January 13, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On January 5, 2005, the Commission received a letter from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) stating that the USTR has withdrawn his request for a Commission report, pursuant to section 2104(f) of the Trade Act of 2002 (19 U.S.C. 3804(f)), assessing the likely impact of a free trade agreement (FTA) with Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua (Central America). Accordingly, the Commission has terminated investigation No. TA-2104- 18, U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement: Potential Economywide and Selected Sectoral Effects, which was instituted pursuant to that request. The public hearing in this investigation, scheduled for January 18, 2005, is canceled. Background: The Commission instituted the investigation following receipt of a request from the USTR on November 17, 2004. The Commission published notice of institution of the investigation in the Federal Register on December 28, 2004 (69 FR 77778). The January 5, 2005, letter from USTR noted that the USTR had requested the report in light of the fact that the Dominican Republic had enacted a tax on beverages sweetened with high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) that the United States regarded as incompatible with the Dominican Republic's obligations under the FTA that the United States had entered into with Central America and the Dominican Republic on August 5, 2004 (and on which the Commission had already provided a report). The letter stated that the Dominican Republic repealed the tax on December 29, 2004.

Section 303 of the Social Security Protection Act of 2004 (SSPA), Public Law No. 108-203, requires the Commissioner of Social Security (the Commissioner) to develop and implement a five-year nationwide demonstration project that will extend to certain non- attorney representatives of claimants under titles II and XVI of the Social Security Act (the Act) the option to have approved representatives' fees withheld and paid directly from a beneficiary's past-due benefits. Currently, this option is available only to representatives who are attorneys. Non-attorney representatives who wish to participate in the demonstration project must meet the prerequisites specified in section 303 of the SSPA, and any additional prerequisites that the Commissioner may prescribe. The purpose of this notice is to provide information about the prerequisites that non-attorney representatives will be required to satisfy and about our plans for administering the prerequisites process. We will post further details about the prerequisites process (e.g., when and how to apply) on our Web site at https:// www.socialsecurity.gov when they become available.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``Commission'' or ``CFTC'') hereby amends its rules relating to the scope of Commission review of National Futures Association (``NFA'') decisions in disciplinary, membership denial, registration and member responsibility actions. First, the Commission makes a technical amendment to add the NFA's Hearing Committee to the list of committees covered by that section. This change conforms Rule 171.1(b)(4) to changes in NFA's committee structure since part 171 was first adopted in October 1990. Secondly, the Commission adds a new provision to exclude from Commission review any appeal concerning NFA suspension of a member for failing to pay settlement or arbitration award (``award suspension cases'') unless there are extraordinary circumstances that would otherwise warrant Commission review.

The Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) has established an advisory committee to advise the Board on issues related to the accessibility of courthouses covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968. The Courthouse Access Advisory Committee (Committee) includes organizations with an interest in courthouse accessibility. This notice announces the date, times and location of the next Committee meeting, which will be open to the public.

This document solicits comments about the progress made by the states in implementing E911 solutions for multi-line telephone systems (MLTSs). The Commission committed to releasing a public notice on this issue in its previous documents that revised the scope of the enhanced 911 rules to clarify which technologies and services will be required to be capable of transmitting enhanced 911 information to Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs).

The Commission is proposing a flammability standard under the authority of the Flammable Fabrics Act that would address open flame ignition of mattresses and mattress and foundation sets (``mattresses/ sets''). The Commission currently has a flammability standard that addresses ignition of mattresses by cigarettes. However, that standard does not address mattress fires ignited by open flames. The proposed standard sets performance requirements based on research conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (``NIST''). Mattresses/sets that comply with the proposed requirements will generate a smaller size fire, thus reducing the possibility of flashover occurring. These improved mattresses should result in significant reductions in deaths and injuries associated with mattress fires. Due to the interaction of mattresses and bedclothes discussed herein, elsewhere in today's Federal Register the Commission is publishing an advance notice of proposed rulemaking to begin rulemaking on bedclothes.