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

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to amend the current security regulations and add new security requirements pertaining to nuclear power reactors. Additionally, this rulemaking includes new security requirements for Category I strategic special nuclear material (SSNM) facilities for access to enhanced weapons and firearms background checks. The proposed rulemaking would: Make generically applicable security requirements imposed by Commission orders issued after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, based upon experience and insights gained by the Commission during implementation; fulfill certain provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005; add several new requirements that resulted from insights from implementation of the security orders, review of site security plans, and implementation of the enhanced baseline inspection program and force-on-force exercises; update the regulatory framework in preparation for receiving license applications for new reactors; and impose requirements to assess and manage site activities that can adversely affect safety and security. The proposed safety and security requirements would address, in part, a petition for rulemaking (PRM 50- 80) that requests the establishment of regulations governing proposed changes to facilities which could adversely affect the protection against radiological sabotage.

The Commission is hereby providing notice to its employees, former employees, and applicants for federal employment about the rights and remedies that are available to them under the Federal antidiscrimination laws and whistleblower protection laws. This notice fulfills FCC's initial notification obligations under the Notification and Federal Employees Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act (No FEAR Act), as implemented by Office of Personnel Management (OPM) regulations at 5 CFR part 724.

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 of 1995 (PRA), Public Law 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a current valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the 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 Federal Communications Commissions, 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, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act 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 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 Office of Government Ethics is publishing this notice under the ``Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002,'' which is known as the No FEAR Act, to inform current employees, former employees, and applicants for OGE employment of the rights and protections available to them under Federal antidiscrimination, whistleblower protection and retaliation laws.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal AdvisoryCommittee Act (Public Law 92-463, as amended), notice is hereby given that the following meetings of Humanities Panels will be held at the Old Post Office, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20506.

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning Government Property. A request for public comments was published in the Federal Register at 71 FR 40999, on July 19, 2006. No public comments were received. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, 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; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; 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.

This final rule makes the following administrative changes to NASA internal procedures: 14 CFR 1260.12(c)(3)(iii) is revised to identify the new name of the Science Mission Directorate's (SMD's) graduate fellowship program; and 14 CFR 1274.211(a) is revised to conform the HQ public announcement procedures to those in the NASA FAR Supplement (NFS).

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Alaska (FEMA-1663- DR), dated 10/16/2006. Incident: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides. Incident Period: 08/15/2006 through 08/25/2006. Effective Date: 10/16/2006. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 12/15/2006.

This is a notice of an Administrative declaration of a disaster for the Commonwealth of Virginia dated 10/16/2006. Incident: Tropical Storm Ernesto. Incident Period: 08/30/2006 through 09/01/2006. Effective Date: 10/16/2006. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 12/15/2006. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 07/16/2007.

The Board is amending Regulation D, Reserve Requirements of Depository Institutions, to reflect the annual indexing of the reserve requirement exemption amount and the low reserve tranche for 2007. The Regulation D amendments set the amount of total reservable liabilities of each depository institution that is subject to a zero percent reserve requirement in 2007 at $8.5 million, up from $7.8 million in 2006. This amount is known as the reserve requirement exemption amount. The Regulation D amendment also sets the amount of net transaction accounts at each depository institution that is subject to a three percent reserve requirement in 2007 at $45.8 million, down from $48.3 million in 2006. This amount is known as the low reserve tranche. The adjustments to both of these amounts are derived using statutory formulas specified in the Federal Reserve Act. The Board is also announcing changes in two other amounts, the nonexempt deposit cutoff level and the reduced reporting limit, that are used to determine the frequency at which depository institutions must submit deposit reports.

The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) is publishing this notice in accordance with Section 202 of the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act) and the regulations thereunder issued by the Office of Personnel Management concerning notice and training.