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

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, 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.

Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on November 26, 2007, under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, on behalf of Applica Incorporated of Miramar, Florida; Applica Consumer Products, Inc. of Miramar, Florida; and Water Research Company of West Dundee, Illinois. The complaint alleges violations of section 337 in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain self- cleaning litter boxes and components thereof by reason of infringement of certain claims of U.S. Patent No. RE36,847. The complaint further alleges that an industry in the United States exists as required by subsection (a)(2) of section 337. The complainants request that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the investigation, issue an exclusion order and a cease and desist order.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has issued a limited exclusion order against eight respondents found in default and cease and desist orders against the five domestic defaulters, and has terminated the above-captioned investigation under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337 (``section 337'').

The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork burdens, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to (PRA) of 1995 (PRA), Public Law No. 104-13. An agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. Subject to the PRA, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information 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 of 1995 (PRA), 44 U.S.C. 3501-3520. 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 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, 44 U.S.C. Sections 3501-3520. 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.

OFPP is proposing to issue a policy letter on green procurement policies and strategies. The policy letter would address: (1) General responsibilities of agencies for the procurement of green products and services; (2) the relationship of green products and services to other socio-economic programs; (3) automatic substitution policies; (4) listing of green products in Federal catalogues and online ordering systems; (5) green requirements for paper and printing; (6) application of green requirements in service contracting; and (7) energy efficiency. The proposed policy letter would implement specific provisions of Executive Order (E.O.) 13423, Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management, Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 6962), the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 6903), the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 6361), and Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8102). The proposed policy letter, when finalized, would supersede OFPP Policy Letter 92-4, Procurement of Environmentally-Sound and Energy-Efficient Products and Services, dated November 2, 1992. Comment Date: Comments must be received in writing on or before February 26, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of the final policy letter.

Section 423(c) of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2703 note), requires the United States International Trade Commission to determine annually the amount (expressed in gallons) that is equal to 7 percent of the U.S. domestic market for fuel ethyl alcohol during the 12-month period ending on the preceding September 30. This determination is to be used to establish the ``base quantity'' of imports of fuel ethyl alcohol with a zero percent local feedstock requirement that can be imported from U.S. insular possessions or CBERA-beneficiary countries. The base quantity to be used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the administration of the law is the greater of 60 million gallons or 7 percent of U.S. consumption, as determined by the Commission. For the 12-month period ending September 30, 2007, the Commission has determined the level of U.S. consumption of fuel ethyl alcohol to be 6.46 billion gallons; 7 percent of this amount is 452.5 million gallons (these figures have been rounded). Therefore, the base quantity for 2008 should be 452.5 million gallons.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has instituted a formal enforcement proceeding relating to a cease and desist order issued at the conclusion of the above-captioned investigation.

The Federal Housing Finance Board (Finance Board) has adjusted the cap on average total assets that defines a ``Community Financial Institution'' and the limits on annual compensation for Federal Home Loan Bank (Bank) directors based on the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) as published by the Department of Labor (DOL). These changes take effect on January 1, 2008.

The Enforcement Bureau (the ``Bureau'') debars Mr. Brown from the schools and libraries universal service support mechanism (or ``E- Rate Program'') for a period of three years based on his conviction of mail fraud in connection with his participation in the program. The Bureau takes this action in order to protect the E-Rate Program from waste, fraud and abuse.

On October 13, 2006, Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act was modified to address institution-affiliated parties participating in the affairs of Bank Holding Companies and Savings and Loan Holding Companies. The FDIC is introducing a footnote to its Statement of Policy for Section 19 of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (``SOP'') that will provide the public with a better understanding of the FDIC's scope given the Federal Reserve System's and Office of Thrift Supervision's new authority under Section 19. The FDIC is not seeking comment on the footnote clarifying the SOP, and the change is effective upon publication in the Federal Register.