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

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'' or ``Commission'') is undertaking a review to determine whether the Dominion-South Financial Basis contract (``DOM''), offered for trading on the IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. (``ICE''), an exempt commercial market (``ECM'') under sections 2(h)(3)-(5) of the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA'' or the ``Act''), performs a significant price discovery function. Authority for this action is found in section 2(h)(7) of the CEA and Commission rule 36.3(c) promulgated thereunder. In connection with this evaluation, the Commission invites comment from interested parties.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'' or ``Commission'') is undertaking a review to determine whether the San Juan Financial Basis (``SNJ'') contract, offered for trading on the IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. (``ICE''), an exempt commercial market (``ECM'') under Sections 2(h)(3)-(5) of the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA'' or the ``Act''), performs a significant price discovery function. Authority for this action is found in section 2(h)(7) of the CEA and Commission rule 36.3(c) promulgated thereunder. In connection with this evaluation, the Commission invites comment from interested parties.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'' or ``Commission'') is undertaking a review to determine whether the TETCO- M3 Financial Basis (``TMT'') contract, offered for trading on the IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. (``ICE''), an exempt commercial market (``ECM'') under sections 2(h)(3)-(5) of the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA'' or the ``Act''), performs a significant price discovery function. Authority for this action is found in section 2(h)(7) of the CEA and Commission rule 36.3(c) promulgated thereunder. In connection with this evaluation, the Commission invites comment from interested parties.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'' or ``Commission'') is undertaking a review to determine whether the Zone 6-NY Financial Basis (``TZS'') contract, offered for trading on the IntercontinentalExchange, Inc. (``ICE''), an exempt commercial market (``ECM'') under Sections 2(h)(3)-(5) of the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA'' or the ``Act''), performs a significant price discovery function. Authority for this action is found in section 2(h)(7) of the CEA and Commission rule 36.3(c) promulgated thereunder. In connection with this evaluation, the Commission invites comment from interested parties.

The Securities and Exchange Commission is re-opening the comment period on certain of the proposed rule amendments to remove references to ratings of Nationally Recognized Statistical Rating Organizations proposed in Release Nos. 33-8940 [73 FR 40106 (July 11, 2008)], 34-58070 [73 FR 40088 (July 11, 2008)], and IC-28327 [73 FR 40124 (July 11, 2008)] ``Proposing Releases''). Today, in a companion release, the Commission is taking action on some of the amendments in the Proposing Releases. In view of the continuing public interest in the Proposing Releases and the Commission's desire to receive additional comment, we believe that it is appropriate to re-open the comment period before we take further action on certain proposals made in the Proposing Releases.

The Postal Service is revising the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM[supreg]) to require all mailpieces weighing more than 13 ounces and bearing only postage stamps be presented to an employee at a retail service counter in a Post OfficeTM.

This notice is announcing that on September 2, 2009, Gregory B. Jaczko, Chairman of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC or Commission), and on September 23, 2009, Governor Jon S. Corzine, of the State of New Jersey, signed an Agreement as authorized by Section 274b of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (the Act). The Agreement provides for the Commission to discontinue its regulatory authority and for New Jersey to assume regulatory authority over the possession and use of byproduct material as defined in Sections 11e.(1), 11e.(3), and 11e.(4) of the Act, source material, special nuclear materials (in quantities not sufficient to form a critical mass), and the regulation of land disposal of byproduct, source, or special nuclear material waste received from other persons. Under the Agreement, a person in New Jersey possessing these materials is exempt from certain Commission regulations. The exemptions have been previously published in the Federal Register (FR) and are codified in the Commission's regulations as 10 CFR part 150. The Agreement is published here as required by Section 274e of the Act.

We are issuing public notice of our intent to alter an existing system of records and to add a routine use applicable to this system of records in accordance with the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a(e)(4) and (e)(11)). The system of records is entitled the Attorney and Eligible Direct Pay Non-Attorney (EDPNA) 1099-MISC File (60-0325), hereinafter referred to as the Appointed Representative File.

The Board of Governors (Board) is publishing for public comment a proposed amendment to Regulation A that would provide a process by which the Federal Reserve Bank of New York may determine the eligibility of credit rating agencies and the ratings they issue for use in the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility, which is maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and for which the Board has expressly set a particular credit rating requirement for collateral offered by the borrower. The proposed rule would not apply to discount window lending or other extensions of credit provided by the Federal Reserve System. In addition, the rule would only apply to asset-backed securities that are not backed by commercial real estate. This proposed amendment is designed to provide the Federal Reserve Bank of New York with a consistent framework for determining the eligibility of ratings issued by individual credit rating agencies when used in conjunction with a separate asset-level risk assessment process. The proposed amendment does not represent a change in the stance of monetary policy. The Board solicits comment on all aspects of the proposal, as well as specific aspects of the proposal as set out in the preamble.