Agencies and Commissions 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document clarifies a proposed rule appearing in the Federal Register on November 3, 2009. The previous document did not include the factual basis for the National Mediation Board's certification, under Section 605 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, that the proposed rule is not expected to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The proposed rule affects only the Board's election process and the method used by the Board to determine the outcome of a self-organization vote by employees. The proposed rule would not directly affect any small entities as defined under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Accordingly, the National Mediation Board certifies that it will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish notice of permit applications received 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 permit applications received.

The Committee is proposing to add to the Procurement List products to be provided by the nonprofit agency employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities.

The Commission is proposing rule amendments and a new rule that would impose additional requirements on nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (``NRSROs''). The proposed amendments and rule would require an NRSRO: to furnish a new annual report describing the steps taken by the firm's designated compliance officer during the fiscal year with respect to compliance reviews, identifications of material compliance matters, remediation measures

The Railroad Retirement Board removes the Listing of Impairments from its regulations. The Board's Listing of Impairments (the Listings) is out of date and no longer reflects advances in medical knowledge, treatments, and methods of evaluation. These amendments provide public notice as to how the Railroad Retirement Board will determine disability after removal of the Listings.

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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected costs and burden; it includes the actual data collection instruments [if any].

The Postal Service gives notice of its intent to file a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add the Canada Post- United States Postal Service Contractual Bilateral Agreement for Inbound Market-Dominant Services to the Market-Dominant Products List pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and of its exercise of its authority to adjust rates for that product pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3622.

The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (Agency) is amending its regulations regarding uniformed services accounts to conform with mandatory tax provisions as well as current recordkeeping practices and allow only for pro rata court-ordered payments.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is correcting final rules affecting the conversion to digital television that were published in the Federal Register at 73 FR 5634, January 30, 2008, which were inadvertently omitted from the rules in the Federal Register.

The Office of Government Ethics is publishing this second round notice and requesting comment on the twelve executive branch OGE model certificates and model documents for qualified trusts. OGE intends to submit these forms for extension of approval (up to three years) by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act. OGE is proposing no changes to these forms at this time. As in the past, OGE will notify filers of an update to the privacy information contained in the existing forms, and will post a notification thereof on its Web site.