Agencies and Commissions June 15, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Following receipt of a request on May 25, 2006, from the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the Commission instituted Investigation No. 332-476, Advice Concerning the Addition of Certain Pharmaceutical Products and Chemical Intermediates to the Pharmaceutical Appendix to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, under section 332(g) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1332(g)).

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA) Board reopens the comment period on the proposed rule intended to reduce regulatory burden on the Farm Credit System (FCS or System), so that interested parties will have additional time to provide comments.

The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulations on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans and Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans prescribe interest assumptions for valuing and paying benefits under terminating single-employer plans. This final rule amends the regulations to adopt interest assumptions for plans with valuation dates in July 2006. Interest assumptions are also published on the PBGC's Web site (https://www.pbgc.gov).

The Board is inviting the public to nominate qualified individuals for appointment to its Consumer Advisory Council, whose membership represents interests of consumers, communities, and the financial services industry. New members will be selected for three- year terms that will begin in January 2007. The Board expects to announce the selection of new members in early January.

Under the provision of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), agencies are required to publish a Notice in the Federal Register notifying the public, that the Agency is preparing an information collection request for OMB review, approval, and request public review and comment on the submission. Comments are being solicited on the need for the information; the accuracy of the Agency's burden estimate; the quality, practical utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the reporting burden, including automated collection techniques by use of other forms of technology. The proposed form under review is summarized below.

The Export-Import Bank, as a part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal Agencies to comment on the proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Our customers will be able to submit this form on paper or electronically. The form has been updated in the following ways: The application now accommodates requests for Finance Lease Guarantee coverage. Information on Lessees and Lessors is requested in those circumstances. The application accommodates requests for Foreign Dealer Insurance policies. A separate one-page attachment (Attachment IV) is required when the applicant requests this coverage. The format has been changed so that it accords with the on-line version of the form which will be made available later in 2006. Formatting changes include: