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

The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on November 14, 2006, at 71 FR 66321. The notice allowed for a 60-day public comment period. Two comments were received on this information collection during that time period, and as a result the number of focus groups was increased from three to nine. In addition, each selected group will now have one focus group from an urban, rural, and suburban location to ensure the diversity of responses and participants. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until June 18, 2007. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10. 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; (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, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is making available preliminary draft rule language to amend its regulations to revise the security requirements and material control and accounting (MC&A) requirements for a geologic repository operations area (GROA). The goal of this rulemaking is to ensure effective security measures are in place for the protection of high-level radioactive waste given the post-September 11, 2001, threat environment. New requirements for specific training enhancements, improved access authorization, and enhancements to defensive strategies will be incorporated. The proposed rule will reinstate the alcohol and drug provisions of the fitness-for- duty provisions to a GROA. The proposed rule will also impose the fatigue portion of the fitness-for-duty requirements for the security personnel at a GROA. The proposed rule will establish general performance objectives and corresponding system capabilities for the GROA MC&A program, with a focus on strengthening, streamlining, and consolidating all MC&A regulations specific to a GROA. In addition, the proposed rule will require the emergency plan to address radiological emergencies. The availability of the preliminary draft rule language is intended to inform stakeholders of the current status of the NRC's activities, but the NRC is not soliciting formal public comments on the information at this time.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of New York (FEMA-1692-DR), dated 04/24/ 2007. Incident: Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding. Incident Period: 04/14/2007 through 04/18/2007. Effective Date: 05/09/2007. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 06/25/2007. EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: 01/24/2008.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Maine (FEMA- 1693-DR), dated 04/25/2007. Incident: Severe Storms and Inland and Coastal Flooding. Incident Period: 04/15/2007 through 04/23/2007. Effective Date: 05/04/2007. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 06/25/2007.

This correcting amendment corrects a typographical error in the institution of investigation notice published in the Federal Register on May 10, 2007 (72 FR 26645). The notice published in the Federal Register on May 10 inadvertently cited the incorrect section of the U.S. Code. Therefore, the Commission is amending the second sentence in the third from the last paragraph to read ``In instituting this investigation, the Commission has not made any determination as to the scope of 19 U.S.C. 1337(a)(1)(B)(ii) or whether 337(a)(1)(B)(ii) is sufficiently broad as to encompass such processes.''

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces a meeting of the Heliophysics Subcommittee of the NASA Advisory Council (NAC). This Subcommittee reports to the Science Committee of the NAC. The Meeting will be held for the purpose of soliciting from the scientific community and other persons scientific and technical information relevant to program planning.

This final notice implements the Small Business Administration's (SBA's) risk rating system (Risk Rating System) as an internal tool to assist SBA in assessing the risk of each active 7(a) Lender's and Certified Development Company's (CDC's) SBA loan operations and loan portfolio. The Risk Rating System will enable SBA to monitor 7(a) Lenders and CDCs (collectively, ``SBA Lenders'') on a uniform basis and identify those institutions whose SBA loan operations and portfolio require additional SBA monitoring or other action. It is also a vehicle for assessing the aggregate strength of SBA's 7(a) and 504 portfolios. Under the Risk Rating System, SBA will assign each SBA Lender a composite rating based on certain portfolio performance factors, which may be overridden in some cases due to SBA Lender specific factors that may be indicative of a higher or lower level of risk. SBA Lenders will have access to their own ratings through SBA's Lender Portal (Portal).

In accordance with the provisions of the Privacy Act, as amended, this notice announces a renewal of an existing computer matching program that SSA is currently conducting with the States.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) publishes notice at least once monthly of certain Federal agency requests for records disposition authority (records schedules). Once approved by NARA, records schedules provide mandatory instructions on what happens to records when no longer needed for current Government business. They authorize the preservation of records of continuing value in the National Archives of the United States and the destruction, after a specified period, of records lacking administrative, legal, research, or other value. Notice is published for records schedules in which agencies propose to destroy records not previously authorized for disposal or reduce the retention period of records already authorized for disposal. NARA invites public comments on such records schedules, as required by 44 U.S.C. 3303a(a).