Agencies and Commissions January 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In this document, the Commission amends its Amateur Radio Service rules to remove the requirement that an individual must pass a Morse code telegraphy examination to qualify for a General Class or an Amateur Extra Class amateur radio service operator license. The Commission also revises the frequency segment of the 80 meter amateur service High Frequency (HF) band on which amateur stations are authorized to be automatically controlled when transmitting RTTY and data emission types, and it make other conforming amendments to the amateur service rules.

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.

It is the policy of the Commission to publish settlements which it provisionally accepts under the Consumer Product Safety Act in the Federal Register in accordance with the terms of 16 CFR 1118.20(e). Published below is a provisionally-accepted Settlement Agreement with Hoover Company, Inc., a corporation, containing a civil penalty of $750,000.

The EAC, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on a proposed information collection. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

The Federal Housing Finance Board (Finance Board) is adopting procedures for the selection of Federal Home Loan Bank (Bank) appointive directors. The procedures require the boards of directors of the Banks to submit to the Finance Board a list of individuals that includes information regarding each individual's eligibility and qualifications to serve as a Bank director. The Finance Board will use the lists provided by each Bank to select well-qualified individuals to serve on the Bank's board of directors.

The National Archives and Records Administration is establishing a new Part 2600 in 2 CFR that adopts the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB's) guidance in 2 CFR Part 180, as supplemented by this new part, as NARA's policies and procedures for nonprocurement and debarment and suspension. NARA is removing 36 CFR part 1209, the part containing NARA's implementation of the government- wide common rule on nonprocurement debarment and suspension. The new part in 2 CFR part 2600 will serve the same purpose as the common rule in a simpler way. This regulatory action is an administrative simplification that would make no substantive change in NARA's policy or procedures for nonprocurement debarment and suspension.

The NRC is preparing a submittal to OMB for review of continued approval of information collections under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Kansas (FEMA-1675- DR) , dated 01/07/2007. Incident: Severe Winter Storm. Incident Period: 12/28/2006 through 12/31/2006. Effective Date: 01/07/2007. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 03/08/2007.

The Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act) requires that each Federal agency provide notice to all employees, former employees, and applicants for employment about the rights and remedies available to them under the anti-discrimination laws and whistleblower protection laws that apply to them. This document fulfills the Postal ServiceTM's requirement under the regulations promulgated by the Office of Personnel Management to publish the initial notice of such rights and remedies in the Federal Register.

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1981 (44 U.S.C, Chapter 35), the Peace Corps has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for approval of information collections, OMB Control Number 0420-0533, the Peace Corps Crisis Corps Volunteer Application Form. This is a renewal of an active information collection. The purpose of this information collection is necessary in order to identify prospective, interested, and available returned Peace Corps Volunteers who are completing their services for Crisis Corps Volunteer Service. The information is used to determine availability, suitability, and potential Crisis Corps placement applicants. The purpose of this notice is to allow for public comment on whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Peace Corps, including whether their information will have practical use; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; ways to enhance the quality, utility and the clarity of the information to be collected; and, ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of automated collection techniques, when appropriate, and other forms of information technology. A copy of the information collection may be obtained from Ms. Mary Angelini, Director of the Crisis Corps, Peace Corps, 1111 20th Street, NW., Room 7305, Washington, DC 20526. Ms. Angelini may be contacted by telephone at 202-692-2250. Comments on the form should also be addressed to the attention of Ms. Angelini and should be received on or before march 26, 2007.

The Federal Trade Commission announces the revised thresholds for the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 required by the 2000 amendment of Section 7A of the Clayton Act. Section 7A of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18a, as added by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, Pub. L. 94-435, 90 Stat. 1390 (``the Act''), requires all persons contemplating certain mergers or acquisitions, which meet or exceed the jurisdictional thresholds in the Act, to file notification with the Commission and the Assistant Attorney General and to wait a designated period of time before consummating such transactions. Section 7A(a)(2) requires the Federal Trade Commission to revise those thresholds annually, based on the change in gross national product, in accordance with Section 8(a)(5). The new thresholds, which take effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register, are as follows: