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

This notice provides in one issue of the Federal Register an accurate and complete text of the Office of Personnel Management's eight Governmentwide systems of records notices most widely used by individuals and Privacy Act officers. This notice proposes to add a new Category of Records and a new Routine Use to one system of records and amends a Category of Records in the same system. This notice will also make administrative changes to reflect changes in the name and location of system managers for all Governmentwide systems of records. We are amending a Category of Records, adding a new Category of Records and adding a new Routine Use in OPM's Governmentwide-1 system of records. In addition, we are making needed administrative changes necessitated by changes in office titles of system managers for all eight systems of records that have occurred in the OPM's reorganization since the last publication of these notices on April 27, 2000.

This rule provides a formula for computing liability under section 4063(b) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (``ERISA'') when there is a substantial cessation of operations by an employer as described by section 4062(e) of ERISA. That section provides, among other things, that when a section 4062(e) event occurs, liability arises under section 4063 of ERISA. However, the method described in section 4063 for determining liability is impracticable when applied to a section 4062(e) event. This rule, which is narrow in scope, provides a practicable and transparent formula for calculating employer liability when a section 4062(e) event occurs. This rulemaking is part of the PBGC's ongoing effort to streamline regulation and improve administration of the pension insurance program.

The Committee is proposing to add to the Procurement List products 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: July 16, 2006.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of California (FEMA- 1646-DR), dated June 5, 2006. Incident: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides. Incident Period: March 29, 2006 through April 16, 2006. Effective Date: June 5, 2006. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: August 4, 2006.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) intends to submit a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The OPM is requesting OMB to approve a collection associated with the Scholarship For Service (SFS) Program Internet Web page. Approval of the Web page is necessary to facilitate the timely registration, selection and placement of program-enrolled students in Federal agencies. The SFS Program was established by the National Science Foundation in accordance with the Federal Cyber Service Training and Education Initiative as described in the President's National Plan for Information Systems Protection. This program seeks to increase the number of qualified students entering the fields of information assurance and computer security in an effort to respond to the threat to the Federal Government's information technology infrastructure. The program provides capacity building grants to selected 4-year colleges and universities to develop or improve their capacity to train information assurance professionals. It also provides selected 4-year colleges and universities scholarship grants to attract students to the information assurance field. Participating students who receive scholarships from this program are required to serve a 10-week internship during their studies and complete a post-graduation employment commitment equivalent to the length of the scholarship or one year, whichever is longer. OPM projects that 450 students will graduate from participating institutions over the next three years. These students will need placement in addition to the 180 students needing placement this year. This is a new collection of information. Based on other programs that collect similar information, we estimate the collection of information for registering and creating an online resume to be 45 minutes to 1 hour in length of time to answer questions. We estimate the total number of hours to be 630. Comments are particularly invited on: Whether this information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of OPM, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. For copies of this proposal, contact Kathy Roberson (210) 805-2423, ext. 506; fax (210) 805-2407 or e-mail to kathy.roberson@opm.gov. Please include your mailing address with your request.

The General Services Administration (GSA) proposes to establish a Government-wide system of records subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a. The system of records, GSA SmartPay[reg] Purchase Charge Card Program (GSA/GOVT-6), will ensure that the Federal Purchase Charge Card Program, for which GSA has Government-wide responsibility, assembles and maintains information necessary for the efficient and cost effective operation, control, and management of commercial purchasing activities by Federal agencies. The system includes personal information of individuals to enhance the Federal Government's ability to monitor official purchases, payments, and expenses involving charge card transactions.

This is a Notice of Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of North Dakota (FEMA-1645-DR), dated June 5, 2006. Incident: Severe Storms, Flooding, and Ground Saturation. Incident Period: March 30, 2006 through April 30, 2006. Effective Date: June 5, 2006. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: August 4, 2006.

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.