Agencies and Commissions June 15, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On May 14, 2007, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'' or the ``Commission'') published for public comment in the Federal Register \1\ a proposal to exempt from the CEA \2\ the trading and clearing of certain products called credit default options (``CDOs'') and credit default basket options (``CDBOs'') that are proposed to be traded on the Chicago Board Options Exchange (``CBOE''), a national securities exchange registered under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``1934 Act''),\3\ and cleared through the Options Clearing Corporation (``OCC''), a registered securities clearing agency registered under Section 17A of the 1934 Act,\4\ and Derivatives Clearing Organization registered under Section 5b of the CEA.\5\ The proposed order was preceded by a request from OCC to approve rules that would permit it to clear these CDOs and CDBOs in its capacity as a registered securities clearing agency. OCC's request presented novel and complex issues of jurisdiction and the Commission determined that an order exempting the trading and clearing of such instruments from pertinent requirements of the CEA may be appropriate. The Commission has reviewed the comments made in response to its proposal and the entire record in this matter and has determined to issue an order exempting the trading and clearing of these contracts from the CEA.

The Federal Trade Commission is extending the deadline for filing public comments on several issues in connection with the preparation of a report required by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for the following collection of information: 3220-0070, Employer Service and Compensation Reports. Section 2(c) of the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act (RUIA) specifies the maximum normal unemployment and sickness benefits that may be paid in a benefit year. Section 2(c) further provides for extended benefits for certain employees and for beginning a benefit year early for other employees. The conditions for these actions are prescribed in 20 CFR part 302. All information about creditable railroad service and compensation needed by the RRB to administer Section 2(c) is not always available from annual reports filed by railroad employers with the RRB (OMB 3220- 0008). When this occurs, the RRB must obtain supplemental information about service and compensation. The RRB utilizes Form(s) UI-41, Supplemental Report of Service and Compensation, and UI-41a, Supplemental Report of Compensation, to obtain the necessary information. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Completion of the forms is mandatory. One response is required (per individual) from a respondent. Review and approval by OIRA ensures that we impose appropriate paperwork burdens. The RRB invites comments on the proposed collection of information to determine (1) the practical utility of the collection; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the collection; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information that is the subject of collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collections on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments to RRB or OIRA must contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper consideration of your comments, it is best if RRB and OIRA receive them within 30 days of publication date. Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the initial 60-day notice (72 FR 12639 on March 16, 2007) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

These regulations finalize the interim regulations that provide the rules for determining an employee's official worksite when he or she teleworks from an alternative worksite during an emergency situation, such as a pandemic health crisis, and permit an agency to provide evacuation payments to an employee who is ordered to evacuate from his or her regular worksite and directed to work from home (or an alternative location mutually agreeable to the agency and the employee) during a pandemic health crisis. The final regulations revise the interim regulations to clarify that an employee need not have a telework agreement when directed to work from home. These regulations are issued as part of OPM's efforts to provide agencies with guidance to ensure they are able to fulfill their critical missions while at the same time protect their employees should a pandemic health crisis occur.

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 15, 2007.

This notice informs the public of the interest rates and assumptions to be used under certain Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation regulations. These rates and assumptions are published elsewhere (or can be derived from rates published elsewhere), but are collected and published in this notice for the convenience of the public. Interest rates are also published on the PBGC's Web site (https://www.pbgc.gov).

Recent legislation alters the postal ratemaking process, and tasks the Postal Regulatory Commission to develop regulations to implement this process. This notice informs the public of field hearings that will be held to guide this process.

The Commission requests comments with respect to the proposed modifications set forth at the end of this notice. The Commission is investigating the tariff treatment of certain products that appear to be subject to higher tariffs as a result of modifications recommended in investigation No. 1205-6 and implemented pursuant to Presidential Proclamation 8097. In addition, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Customs) has requested certain changes in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS). Recommendations from this investigation will be included in an addendum to the original investigation report.