Agencies and Commissions January 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Trade Commission announces the revised thresholds for interlocking directorates required by the 1990 amendment of Section 8 of the Clayton Act. Section 8 prohibits, with certain exceptions, one person from serving as a director or officer of two competing corporations if two thresholds are met. Competitor corporations are covered by Section 8 if each one has capital, surplus, and undivided profits aggregating more than $10,000,000, with the exception that no corporation is covered if the competitive sales of either corporation are less than $1,000,000. Section 8(a)(5) requires the Federal Trade Commission to revise those thresholds annually, based on the change in gross national product. The new thresholds, which take effect immediately, are $26,161,000 for Section 8(a)(1), and $2,616,100 for Section 8(a)(2)(A).

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:

This gives notice of OPM decisions granting authority to make appointments underSchedules A, B, and C in the excepted service as required by 5 CFR 6.6 and 213.103.

In this document, the Commission clarifies several points regarding video programming distributors' obligations to close caption digital programming in light of technological changes inherent in the digital television transition for full-power broadcasting. The Commission also amends the closed captioning rules to provide for more efficient complaint processes and methods for consumers to contact distributors with concerns about closed captioning.

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 comment on the following information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act 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. Pursuant 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.

Notice is hereby given of the appointment of members of the U.S. Trade and Development Agency's Performance Review Board.

Notice is hereby given of the regular meeting of the Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation Board (Board). Date and Time: The meeting of the Board will be held at the offices of the Farm Credit Administration in McLean, Virginia, on January 15, 2009, from 9 a.m. until such time as the Board concludes its business.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is confirming the effective date of January 12, 2009 for the direct final rule that was published in the Federal Register on October 27, 2008 (73 FR 63621). This direct final rule amended the NRC's regulations to revise the NAC- UMS cask system listing to include Amendment No. 5 to Certificate of Compliance (CoC) No. 1015.

The General Services Administration published a document in the Federal Register of December 9, 2008, concerning OMB Control No. 3090-0221 requesting comments on whether this collection of information is necessary 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. The document contained an incorrect date.

The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service request to add Express Mail Contract 3 to the Competitive Product List. The Postal Service has also filed a related contract. This notice addresses procedural steps associated with these filings.

This notice is issued in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 209(c)(1) and 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i). NASA hereby gives notice of its intent to grant an exclusive license in the United States to practice the inventions described and claimed in U.S. Patent No. 6,899,275 B1 and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/047/686 and NASA Case No. MFS- 32603-1 ``Methods for Identification and Verification Using a Multi- spectral Alias Pattern Identification Data System (MAPIDS)'' to Quest Integrated Inc., having its principal place of business in Kent, Washington. The patent rights in these inventions have been assigned to the United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The prospective exclusive license will comply with the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. NASA has not yet made a determination to grant the requested license and may deny the requested license even if no objections are submitted within the comment period.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish a notice of requests to modify permits issued to conduct activities regulated under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. NSF has published regulations under the Antarctic Conservation Act at Title 45 Part 670 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This is the required notice of a requested permit modification.

The Civilian Agency Acquisition Council and the Defense Acquisition Regulations Council (Councils) are proposing to amend the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to specifically require the incorporation of the FAR clauses regarding Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Act-Price Adjustment (Multi-Year and Option Contracts) and Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Act-Price Adjustment in time-and-materials and laborhour service contracts that are subject to the Service Contract Act.

The General Services Administration (GSA) is amending the GSA Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) to revise the language that provides requirements for contract modifications.

The NRC is announcing the completion and availability of NUREG-1307, Revision 13, ``Report on Waste Burial Charges,'' dated December 2009.