Agencies and Commissions November 23, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'') and the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'') (collectively, ``Commissions'') by joint order under the Commodity Exchange Act (``CEA'') and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act'') are excluding certain security indexes from the definition of ``narrow- based security index.'' Specifically, the Commissions are excluding from the definition of the term ``narrow-based security index'' certain volatility indexes composed of series of index options on broad-based security indexes.

This is a proposed rule to conform PBGC's reportable events regulation under section 4043 of ERISA and a number of other PBGC regulations to statutory changes made by the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA 2006) and to revisions of other PBGC regulations that implement the statutory changes. The rule would also eliminate most of the automatic waivers and filing extensions currently provided under the reportable events regulation and make other amendments to the regulation. For example, the rule would create two new reportable events based on provisions in PPA 2006 dealing with funding-based benefit limits and with asset transfers to retiree health benefits accounts.

The Commission hereby gives notice of the scheduling of full reviews pursuant to section 751(c)(5) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1675(c)(5)) (the Act) to determine whether revocation of the antidumping duty orders on polyethylene retail carrier bags from China, Malaysia, and Thailand would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of material injury within a reasonably foreseeable time. For further information concerning the conduct of these reviews and rules of general application, consult the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, part 201, subparts A through E (19 CFR part 201), and part 207, subparts A, D, E, and F (19 CFR part 207).

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. 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.

This is a notice of an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration for the State of Washington, dated 11/13/2009.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

The Committee is proposing to delete products and services previously furnished by nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') is proposing to amend the regulatory requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act'') that apply to non-public trading interest in National Market System (``NMS'') stocks, including so-called ``dark pools'' of liquidity. First, it is proposing to amend the definition of ``bid'' or ``offer'' in Exchange Act quoting requirements to apply expressly to actionable indications of interest (``IOIs'') privately transmitted by dark pools and other trading venues to selected market participants. The proposed definition would exclude, however, IOIs for large sizes that are transmitted in the context of a targeted size discovery mechanism. Second, the Commission is proposing amendments to the display obligations of alternative trading systems (``ATSs'') in Regulation ATS under the Exchange Act, including a substantial lowering of the trading volume threshold in Regulation ATS that triggers public display obligations for ATSs. Third, the Commission is proposing to amend the joint-industry plans for publicly disseminating consolidated trade data to require real-time disclosure of the identity of dark pools and other ATSs on the reports of their executed trades. The proposals are intended to promote the Exchange Act goals of transparency, fairness, and efficiency.