Agencies and Commissions October 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under authority in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (the Dodd-Frank Reform Act), the ASC modified the annual National Registry fee (Registry fee) to $40 from the current $25 amount at its meeting on October 13, 2010. The ASC raised the Registry fee to support its supervisory activities, including additional authority and responsibility under the Dodd-Frank Reform Act. The modified Registry fee of $40 is effective on January 1, 2012. As of January 1, 2012, for all new appraiser credentials and all renewals of existing credentials, States are required to collect and transmit to the ASC the modified Registry fee of $40. The National Registry is a database of all State licensed and certified appraisers who are eligible to perform appraisals for federally related transactions. Through the National Registry, lenders and consumers can readily determine whether an appraiser holds the appropriate credential and remains in good standing with the State. Each State maintains procedures for certifying, licensing, supervising and disciplining appraisers. The ASC is responsible for monitoring States' appraiser regulatory programs.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined not to review an initial determination (``ID'') (Order No. 20) issued by the presiding administrative law judge (``ALJ'') granting a motion filed by complainant Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (``Freescale'') for leave to amend its complaint and the notice of investigation.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has announced the following appointments to the NRC Performance Review Board. The following individuals are appointed as members of the NRC Performance Review Board (PRB) responsible for making recommendations to the appointing and awarding authorities on performance appraisal ratings and performance awards for Senior Executives and Senior Level System employees:

The Board is amending Regulation D, Reserve Requirements of Depository Institutions, to reflect the annual indexing of the reserve requirement exemption amount and the low reserve tranche for 2011. The Regulation D amendments set the amount of total reservable liabilities of each depository institution that is subject to a zero percent reserve requirement in 2011 at $10.7 million, unchanged from its level in 2010. This amount is known as the reserve requirement exemption amount. The Regulation D amendments also set the amount of net transaction accounts at each depository institution that is subject to a three percent reserve requirement in 2011 at $58.8 million, up from $55.2 million in 2010. This amount is known as the low reserve tranche. The adjustments to both of these amounts are derived using statutory formulas specified in the Federal Reserve Act. The Board is also announcing changes in two other amounts, the nonexempt deposit cutoff level and the reduced reporting limit, that are used to determine the frequency at which depository institutions must submit deposit reports.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is forwarding five (5) Information Collection Requests (ICR) to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Our ICR(s) describe the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and approval by OIRA ensures that we impose appropriate paperwork burdens. The RRB invites comments on the proposed collections of information to determine (1) The practical utility of the collections; (2) the accuracy of the estimated burden of the collections; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information that is the subject of collection; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of collections on respondents, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments to RRB or OIRA must contain the OMB control number of the ICR. For proper consideration of your comments, it is best if RRB and OIRA receive them within 30 days of publication date. 1. Title and purpose of information collection: 3220-0136, Public Service Pension Questionnaires. Public Law 95-216 amended the Social Security Act of 1977 by providing, in part, that spouse or survivor benefits may be reduced when the beneficiary is in receipt of a pension based on employment with a Federal, State, or local governmental unit. Initially, the reduction was equal to the full amount of the government pension. Public Law 98-21 changed the reduction to two-thirds of the amount of the government pension. Public Law 108-203 amended the Social Security Act by changing the requirement for exemption to public service offset, that Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes be deducted from the public service wages for the last 60 months of public service employment, rather than just the last day of public service employment. Sections 4(a)(1) and 4(f)(1) of the Railroad Retirement Act (RRA) provides that a spouse or survivor annuity should be equal in amount to what the annuitant would receive if entitled to a like benefit from the Social Security Administration. Therefore, the public service pension (PSP) provisions apply to RRA annuities. RRB Regulations pertaining to the collection of evidence relating to public service pensions or worker's compensation paid to spouse or survivor applicants or annuitants are found in 20 CFR 219.64c. The RRB utilizes Form G-208, Public Service Pension Questionnaire, and Form G-212, Public Service Monitoring Questionnaire, to obtain information used to determine whether an annuity reduction is in order. The RRB proposes a non-burden impacting editorial change to G-208 and no changes to Form G-212. The RRB estimates the completion time for Form G-208 at 16 minutes and G-212 at 15 minutes. If a respondent fails to complete the form(s), the RRB may be unable to pay them benefits. One response is required from a respondent. Previous Requests for Comments: The RRB has already published the initial 60-day notice (75 FR 51117 on August 18, 2010) required by 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2). That request elicited no comments.

The Commission is noticing a recently filed Postal Service request to add six Global Expedited Package Services 3 contracts to the competitive product list. This notice addresses procedural steps associated with the filing.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined not to review the presiding administrative law judge's (``ALJ'') initial determination (``ID'') (Order No. 28) granting a joint motion filed by the complainant and the respondents to terminate the investigation based on a settlement agreement. The investigation is terminated.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined that the June 22, 2010, initial determination on claim construction (``ID'') issued by the presiding administrative law judge (``ALJ'') in the above-captioned investigation under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337 (``section 337'') is properly issued in the form of an order rather than an initial determination.

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 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 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 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)).

In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, Public Law 92-463, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces a meeting of the Earth Science Subcommittee of the NASA Advisory Council (NAC). This Subcommittee reports to the Science Committee of the NAC. The Meeting will be held for the purpose of soliciting from the scientific community and other persons scientific and technical information relevant to program planning.

The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service request to add Inbound International Expedited Services 4 to the competitive product list. It is also noticing a contemporaneous Postal Service notice that new rates for inbound Express Mail Service from Canada will become effective January 1, 2011. This notice addresses procedural aspects associated with these filings.

The Commission is establishing a docket to address a recent Postal Service request for approval of a temporary waiver of rules requiring it to provide periodic reports on service performance for certain market dominant postal services. The Postal Service's request reflects the expectation that a transition period likely would be needed before full compliance with new reporting rules could be accomplished. This notice informs the public about the Postal Service's interest in obtaining a temporary waiver and invites comments that will inform the Commission's decision on the request.

In accordance with Section 765 (``Section 765'') of Title VII (``Title VII'') of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 (``Dodd-Frank Act''), the Securities and Exchange Commission (``SEC'' or ``Commission'') is proposing Regulation MC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (``Exchange Act'') for clearing agencies that clear security-based swaps (``security-based swap clearing agencies'') and for security-based swap execution facilities (``SB SEFs'') and national securities exchanges that post or make available for trading security-based swaps (``SBS exchanges''). Regulation MC is designed to mitigate potential conflicts of interest that could exist at these entities. Specifically, the Commission seeks to mitigate the potential conflicts of interest through conditions and structures relating to ownership, voting, and governance of security- based swap clearing agencies, SB SEFs, and SBS exchanges.

This Notice announces the maximum allowable rates for Immediate Disaster Assistance Program (IDAP) loans.

Summary of Application: Applicants have received a temporary order exempting them from section 9(a) of the Act, with respect to an injunction entered against Citigroup Inc. (``Citigroup'') on October 19, 2010 by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia (the ``Injunction''), until the Commission takes final action on an application for a permanent order. Applicants also have applied for a permanent order. Applicants: Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (``CGMI''), CEFOF GP I Corp. (``CEFOF''), CELFOF GP Corp. (``CELFOF''), Citibank, N.A. (``Citibank''), Citigroup Alternative Investments LLC (``Citigroup Alternative''), Consulting Group Advisory Services LLC (``Advisory Services''), Citigroup Capital Partners I GP I Corp. (``CCP I''), and Citigroup Capital Partners I GP II Corp. (``CCP II'') (collectively, ``Applicants'').\1\