Agencies and Commissions August 17, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given that the National Science Foundation (NSF) has received a waste management permit application from Mr. Sebastian Copeland for his private expedition crossing Antarctica from the Russian Novo station on the coast to the Pole of Inaccessibility to South Pole and ending at Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions camp at Union Glacier where they will be flown back to Punta Arenas, Chile. The application is submitted to NSF pursuant to regulations issued under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978.

The Peace Corps will be submitting the National Agency Check (NAC) Questionnaire for Peace Corps Volunteer Background Investigation (OMB Control Number 0420-0001) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Notice of the information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on May 25, 2011, at 76 FR 12939, allowing for a 60-day public comment period. Peace Corps received 16 identical comments stating that ``the Peace Corps must ensure that the proposed information collection activity screens out and excludes those individuals motivated exclusively (or near exclusively) to promote or participate in the harmful male genital mutilation known as circumcision.'' As the NAC Questionnaire for Peace Corps Volunteer Background Investigation (OMB Control Number 0420-0001) requests only identifying information about Volunteer applicants in order to locate records pertaining to applicants' legal activities and legal suitability for Peace Corps Volunteer service. As those records are not likely to contain information concerning views about circumcision, it will not be possible to make such a judgment about applicants using this form. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments. Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies should address one or more of the following four points: (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined not to review an initial determination (``ID'') (Order No. 6) of the presiding administrative law judge (``ALJ'') granting complainant's unopposed motion to amend the complaint and notice of investigation.

The Marine Mammal Commission adopts these guidelines to ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of information disseminated by the agency in accordance with the directive issued by the Office of Management and Budget (67 FR 8452-8460), pursuant to section 515 of the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001.

In accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. chapter 35), the OCC, the Board, and the FDIC, (collectively, the ``agencies'') may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The agencies, as part of their continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. On July 21, 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Dodd- Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). As part of the comprehensive package of financial regulatory reform measures enacted, Title III of the Dodd-Frank Act transfers the powers, authorities, rights and duties of the Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS) to other banking agencies, including the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), on the ``transfer date.'' The transfer date is one year after the date of enactment of the Dodd-Frank Act, July 21, 2011. The Dodd-Frank Act also abolishes the OTS ninety days after the transfer date. As a result of the Dodd-Frank Act, OTS transferred this information collection to the OCC. Notice is hereby given of the final approval of proposed information collection by the Board under OMB delegated authority, as per 5 CFR 1320.16 (OMB Regulations on Controlling Paperwork Burdens on the Public). The OCC and FDIC are also giving notice that they have sent the collection to OMB for review and approval.

This document revises the rules governing proceedings before the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals (Board). The rules are amended to provide procedures for the electronic filing of documents in proceedings before the Board. Electronic filing is increasingly available in judicial and administrative tribunals to provide parties with a faster, more efficient, and less costly way to submit their documents. In addition, although electronically filed documents will be docketed as received only during Board working hours, they may be transmitted at any time from any location with Internet access. This amendment is a non-substantive change to the Rules that is intended to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Board's programs by providing parties with an additional option for filing their documents with the Board. It does not affect any of the other methods currently available, including the delivery of documents in person, by courier or United States Postal Service, or by facsimile transmission.

Notice is hereby given that the U.S. International Trade Commission has determined not to review the presiding administrative law judge's initial determination (``ID'') (Order No. 8) granting a joint motion to terminate the investigation.

The Federal Communications Commission (Commission) sought public comment on proposed reforms that would assist the Commission in assessing strategies to increase broadband adoption, without increasing overall program size. Based on the current record in this proceeding, four issues in particular merit further inquiry. In this document, the Commission seeks further inquiry on four issues: designing and implementing a Lifeline/Link Up broadband pilot program to evaluate whether and how Lifeline/Link Up can effectively support broadband adoption by low-income households; limiting the availability of Lifeline support to one discount per residential address; revising the definition of Link Up service, as well as the possible reduction of the $30 reimbursement amount for Link Up support; and improving methods for verifying continued eligibility for the program. The Commission believes that this analysis would benefit from further development of these issues in the record, and therefore seek further comment focused on these areas.