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

In this document, the Commission announces that the one-year waiver of the requirement that telecommunications relay service (TRS) providers (including providers of captioned telephone service) offer three-way calling will expire on February 25, 2005. This document seeks comment on whether TRS providers will be able to offer this feature as of that date, or whether it is necessary to extend this waiver. This document also seek comment on whether, instead of a waiver, the requirement might be modified or clarified, and, if so, how.

The Commission is considering issuing a flammability standard that would address open flame ignition of bedclothes. (Commissioner Thomas H. Moore issued a statement, a copy of which is available from the Commission's Office of the Secretary or from the Commission's Web site, https://www.cpsc.gov.) Elsewhere in today's Federal Register, the Commission is proposing a flammability standard that addresses open flame ignition of mattresses/foundations. Research indicates that in mattress fires the mattress and bedclothes operate together as a system. Thus, the Commission believes that a flammability standard for bedclothes in addition to one for mattresses may be appropriate. The Commission invites comments concerning the risk of injury identified in this notice, the regulatory alternatives being considered, and other possible alternatives. The Commission also invites submission of any existing standard or statement of intention to modify or develop a voluntary standard to address small open flame ignition of bedclothes.

Public Law 95-105 requires that at 3-year intervals following January 1, 1981, minimal value for reporting foreign gifts be redefined by the Administrator of General Services, after consultation with the Secretary of State, to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for the immediately preceding 3-year period. The required consultation has been completed and the minimal value has been increased to mean $305 or less as of January 1, 2005.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations governing the use of byproduct material in specifically licensed portable gauges. The final rule requires a portable gauge licensee to use a minimum of two independent physical controls that form tangible barriers to secure portable gauges from unauthorized removal whenever the portable gauges are not under the control and constant surveillance of the licensee. The primary intent of this rulemaking is to increase licensees' control of portable gauges to reduce the opportunity for unauthorized removal or theft.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) publishes notice at least once monthly of certain Federal agency requests for records disposition authority (records schedules). Once approved by NARA, records schedules provide mandatory instructions on what happens to records when no longer needed for current Government business. They authorize the preservation of records of continuing value in the National Archives of the United States and the destruction, after a specified period, of records lacking administrative, legal, research, or other value. Notice is published for records schedules in which agencies propose to destroy records not previously authorized for disposal or reduce the retention period of records already authorized for disposal. NARA invites public comments on such records schedules, as required by 44 U.S.C. 3303a(a).

This gives a consolidated notice of all positions excepted under Schedules A, B, and C as of June 30, 2004, as required by Civil Service Rule VI, Exceptions from the Competitive Service.

This document announces an immediate freeze on the filing of certain requests by analog and digital television broadcast stations for changes to existing DTV and analog TV service areas and channels. This freeze will assist the Commission in the process of implementing a channel election and repacking process that will assign to eligible television broadcasters a post-transition DTV channel in the core television spectrum (i.e., channels 2-51).

This notice sets forth the schedule and a summary of the agenda for an upcoming meeting of the National Institute for Literacy Advisory Board (Board). The notice also describes the functions of the Board. Notice of this meeting is required by section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This document is intended to notify the general public of their opportunity to attend the meeting. Individuals who will need accommodations for a disability in order to attend the meeting (e.g., interpreting services, assistive listening devices, or materials in alternative format) should notify Liz Hollis at telephone number (202) 233-2072 no later than January 18, 2005. We will attempt to meet requests for accommodations after this date but cannot guarantee their availability. The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Date and Time: Open sessionsFebruary 2, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and February 3, 2005, from 9:20 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed sessions February 3, 2005, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.