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

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) have agreed to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to require agencies to publish on the Governmentwide point of entry (GPE) or e-Buy the documentation required by the FAR to support the use of brand name specifications.

In this document, the Media Bureau extends the comment and reply comment period in this proceeding. The Commission seeks comment on how to address issues raised by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit with respect to rules, as adopted or revised in the 2002 Biennial Review of the Commission's broadcast ownership rules.

The Commission hereby gives notice of the institution of investigations and commencement of preliminary phase antidumping investigation Nos. 731-TA-1105-1106 (Preliminary) under section 733(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1673b(a)) (the Act) to determine whether there is a reasonable indication that an industry in the United States is materially injured or threatened with material injury, or the establishment of an industry in the United States is materially retarded, by reason of imports from Argentina and Mexico of lemon juice, provided for in subheadings 2009.31.40, 2009.31.60, and 2009.39.60 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, that are alleged to be sold in the United States at less than fair value. Unless the Department of Commerce extends the time for initiation pursuant to section 732(c)(1)(B) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1673a(c)(1)(B)), the Commission must reach a preliminary determination in antidumping investigations in 45 days, or in this case by November 6, 2006. The Commission's views are due at Commerce within five business days thereafter, or by November 14, 2006. For further information concerning the conduct of these investigations and rules of general application, consult the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, subparts A through E (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A and B (19 CFR part 207).

In August 2006, the Commission published a notice of possible policy priorities for the amendment cycle ending May 1, 2007. See 77 FR 44344 (August 4, 2006). After reviewing public comment received pursuant to the notice of proposed priorities, the Commission has identified its policy priorities for the upcoming amendment cycle and hereby gives notice of these policy priorities.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended by the Computer Matching and Privacy Protection Act of 1988, and the Computer Matching Privacy Act Amendments of 1990, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Guidelines on the Conduct of Matching Programs and OMB Bulletin 89-22, ``Instructions on Reporting Computer Matching Programs to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Congress and the Public'', the Small Business Administration (SBA) is issuing a public notice of its intent to conduct a computer matching program with MDA which uses a computer information system of SBA. The purpose of the computer matching program is to ensure that there is no duplication of benefits (DOB), as prohibited by the Small Business Act, between SBA disaster loans made to homeowners in Mississippi affected by the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes and MDA grants to the same homeowners.

On May 1, 2006, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC or Commission) published a notice in accordance with provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35) (PRA), to announce the agency's intention to seek approval for a collection of information to be conducted through a Consumer Opinion Forum (Forum) posted on the CPSC Web site, https://www.cpsc.gov. 71 FR 25570. The Commission now announces that it has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for approval of that collection of information. The Commission received two comments. One commentor, Safe Kids Worldwide (Safe Kids), supported the collection of information because it believes that direct consumer input on specific consumer products would be beneficial to the Commission in its efforts to improve the safety of consumer products and improve the effectiveness of product recall campaigns. Safe Kids recommended that the Commission make public the participant responses on the Forum. Staff will evaluate whether posting summaries of participant responses on certain Forum topics or questions may be useful after the program is fully operational. Another commentor, the Consumer Specialty Products Association (CSPA), questioned how the comments would be solicited and verified. In addition, CSPA asked whether product-specific information would be kept confidential, and what role a manufacturer would have in such a Forum. In the first Federal Register notice, 71 FR 25570, the Commission explained in detail how information would be collected through the Forum. Any individual at least 18 years old who has access to the Internet and to e-mail may voluntarily register to participate in the Forum through the CPSC Web site. During the registration process, participants will be asked to provide an e-mail address and personal password to access the Forum. When a new question is posted in the Forum, registered participants may be invited via e-mail to log into the Forum and to provide responses to the posted question(s). Since the purpose of the Forum is to solicit consumer opinions and perceptions, the staff will not verify the responses provided by participants. Although questions related to certain product classes or categories might be posted in the Forum, staff does not intend to pose questions that are specific to a particular brand or model of product. Such information, however, may be received inadvertently through the Forum even if it is not solicited. To the extent that any information is obtained that could identify a specific product brand or model, such information will be kept confidential and will not be released. The information collected via the Forum will help Commission staff evaluate consumer products and product use by providing insight and information into consumer perceptions and usage patterns. Such information may also assist the staff in its efforts to support voluntary standards activities, and help the staff identify areas regarding consumer safety issues that need additional research. In addition, based on the information obtained, the staff may be able to provide safety information to the public that is easier to read and is more readily understood by a wider range of consumers. The Forum may also be used to solicit consumer opinions and feedback regarding the effectiveness of product recall communications and to determine what action is being taken by consumers in response to such communications and why. This may aid in tailoring future recall activities to increase the success of those activities. If this information is not collected, the Commission would not have available useful information regarding consumer experiences, opinions, and perceptions related to specific product use, which the Commission relies on in its ongoing efforts to improve the safety of consumer products on behalf of consumers.

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid control number. Comments are requested concerning (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is amending its regulations to clarify a requirement pertaining to items relied on for safety (IROFS). This rulemaking corrects an inconsistency in the regulations pertaining to IROFS.

Under the Commission's regulations, any infant cushion/pillow that meets the criteria set forth in the Commission's regulations at 16 CFR 1500.18(a)(16)(i), is currently a banned hazardous substance. In July 2005, the Commission received a petition from Boston Billows, Inc. asking the Commission to amend 16 CFR 1500.18(a)(16)(i)(A)-(E) to provide an exception to the ban when the product is specifically designed, intended and promoted for mothers to use when breastfeeding and requested by a Pediatrician or a Board Certified Lactation Consultant. On July 10, 2006, the Commission voted to grant the petition to the extent it requests the Commission to commence a rulemaking process to evaluate whether the Boston Billow nursing pillow and other infant cushions/pillows or pillow-like products \1\ could result in an amendment to the existing ban. Accordingly, this advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) initiates a rulemaking proceeding that could result in an amendment to the existing ban on infant cushions/pillows. This proceeding is commenced under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA).

In accordance with Section 1.420(j) of the Commission's Rules, this document grants a Settlement Agreement filed by Two Hearts Communications, LLC and SSR Communications, Inc., requesting the allotment of Channel 280C1 at Monument, Oregon, as its first local service and Channel 260C at Prairie City, Oregon, as its first local service. This document also substitutes Channel *247C1 for Channel *280C1 at Weiser, Idaho and allots Channel 267C1 at Prineville, Oregon, as its third FM commercial broadcast service. The reference coordinates for Channel 280C1 at Monument are 44-49-09 NL and 119-25-11 WL. The reference coordinates for Channel 260C at Prairie City are 44-17-47 NL and 118-44-22 WL. This site is located 18.5 kilometers (11.5 miles) south of Prairie City. The reference coordinates for Channel *247C1 at Weiser are 44-20-39 NL and 117-07-14 WL. This site is located 16 kilometers (9.9 miles) northwest of Weiser. The reference coordinates for Channel 267C1 at Prineville are 44-20-48 NL and 120-22-29 WL. This site is located 37.6 kilometers (23.4 miles) east of Prineville. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

On May 3, 2006, the Postal Service filed a request with the Postal Rate Commission to change prices for virtually all domestic mailing services. The Commission designated the filing as Docket No. R2006-1. This proposed rule provides the mailing standards that would accompany the new prices if the R2006-1 price change proposal is adopted.

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and NASA policy and procedures (14 CFR part 1216 subpart 1216.3), NASA has prepared and issued an FPEIS for the proposed development of two new types of advanced Radioisotope Power Systems (RPSs), the Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (MMRTG) and the Stirling Radioisotope Generator (SRG). The purpose of this Proposed Action is to develop advanced power systems, specifically the MMRTG and the SRG, that would be able to function in the environments encountered in space and on the surfaces of planets, moons, and other solar system bodies that have an atmosphere thus enabling a broad range of long-term space exploration missions. Included in this Proposed Action are NASA's long-term research and development (R&D) activities focused on alternative radioisotope power systems and power conversion technologies. The long- term R&D activities could include, but not necessarily be limited to, improvements to further increase the versatility of future RPS designs, expanding their capability and the environments in which they can operate. The long-term R&D activities are also expected to include activities to develop RPS designs with smaller electrical outputs and efforts to reduce the mass of power conversion systems to further improve specific power (watts of electrical power per unit of mass). Such long-term R&D activities do not involve the use of radioactive material. The only alternative to the Proposed Action considered in detail is the No Action Alternative, where NASA would discontinue development efforts for the production of the MMRTG and the SRG and would continue to consider the use of currently available RPSs, such as the General Purpose Heat SourceRadioisotope Thermoelectric Generator (GPHS-RTG), for future exploration missions. As with the Proposed Action, NASA's long-term R&D activities on alternative radioisotope power systems and power conversion technologies would continue. The Proposed Action is NASA's preferred alternative.