Agencies and Commissions September 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Executive Order 13563 on Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review directs agencies to review and improve their regulatory processes. As a result of this regulatory review, and in response to comments by premium payers and pension professionals, PBGC is providing relief from certain premium penalties and in certain situations involving alternative premium funding target elections.

This final rule amends the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's regulations on Benefits Payable in Terminated Single- Employer Plans and Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans to prescribe interest assumptions under the benefit payments regulation for valuation dates in October 2011 and interest assumptions under the asset allocation regulation for valuation dates in the fourth quarter of 2011. The interest assumptions are used for valuing and paying benefits under terminating single-employer plans covered by the pension insurance system administered by PBGC.

This document informs the public that an appeal of the closing of the South International Falls, Minnesota post office has been filed. It identifies preliminary steps and provides a procedural schedule. Publication of this document will allow the Postal Service, petitioners, and others to take appropriate action.

On July 8, 2011, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) published a draft Regulatory Issue Summary (RIS) pertaining to NRC regulation of military operational Radium-226 for a 60-day public comment period that ended on September 6, 2011. The NRC has decided to reopen the comment period for an additional 75 days.

Under authority delegated to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (Board) by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), the Board is requesting comment on four surveys related to its obligations under section 920(a) of the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA). Two surveys request information about the prevalence of the use of general-use prepaid cards in federal, state, and local government-administered payment programs and the interchange and cardholder fees charged with respect to this use. The Board is proposing to conduct these surveys to collect information necessary to meet its obligation under EFTA section 920(a)(7)(D) to submit an annual report to the Congress on such programs and fees. One of these surveys will require information from issuers of government-administered, general-use prepaid cards, in accordance with the Board's information collection authority in section 920(a)(3)(B) of the EFTA. The other survey, which is voluntary, will be directed to state governments that administer general-use prepaid cards. The Board is also requesting comment on two mandatory surveys, one for debit card issuers and one for payment card networks, that will collect information on costs, debit card usage, and interchange fees. These surveys will enable the Board to meet its obligation under EFTA section 920(a)(3) to disclose aggregate or summary information concerning the costs incurred and interchange fees charged or received by issuers or payment card networks in connection with the authorization, clearance or settlement of electronic debit transactions.

This notice is provided in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality's regulations (40 CFR parts1500 to 1508) and TVA's procedures for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act. TVA has decided to adopt the preferred alternative in its final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Natural Resource Plan (NRP). The notice of availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Natural Resource Plan was published in the Federal Register on July 15, 2011. The TVA Board of Directors accepted the NRP and authorized TVA's Chief Executive Officer to implement the preferred alternative at its August 18, 2011, meeting. This alternative, Blended Management, will guide TVA's natural resource management over the next 20 years.

The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint and the terms of the consent orderembodied in the consent agreementthat would settle these allegations.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of New Hampshire (FEMA-4026-DR), dated 09/03/2011. Incident: Tropical Storm Irene. Incident Period: 08/26/2011 and continuing. Effective Date: 09/03/2011. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 11/02/2011. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 06/05/2012.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Connecticut (FEMA-4023-DR), dated 09/02/2011. Incident: Tropical Storm Irene. Incident Period: 08/27/2011 and continuing.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of New York (FEMA-4020-DR), dated 08/31/2011. Incident: Hurricane Irene. Incident Period: 08/26/2011 through 09/05/2011.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of New York (FEMA-4020-DR), dated 08/31/ 2011. Incident: Hurricane Irene. Incident Period: 08/26/2011 and continuing through 09/05/2011. Effective Date: 09/05/2011. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 10/31/2011. EIDL Loan Application Deadline Date: 05/31/2012.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Iowa (FEMA- 1998-DR), dated 08/22/2011. Incident: Flooding. Incident Period: 05/25/2011 through 08/01/2011.

This is a Notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the Commonwealth of Kentucky (FEMA-4008-DR), dated 09/01/ 2011. Incident: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding. Incident Period: 06/19/2011 through 06/23/2011.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of New Jersey (FEMA-4021-DR), dated 08/31/2011. Incident: Hurricane Irene. Incident Period: 08/27/2011 and continuing. Effective Date: 09/04/2011. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 10/31/2011. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 05/31/2012.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of New Jersey (FEMA-4021-DR), dated 08/31/ 2011. Incident: Hurricane Irene. Incident Period: 08/27/2011 and continuing.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of Vermont (FEMA-4022-DR), dated 09/01/2011. Incident: Tropical Storm Irene Incident Period: 08/27/2011 and continuing.

This is an amendment of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for Public Assistance Only for the State of New York (FEMA-4020-DR), dated 08/31/2011. Incident: Hurricane Irene. Incident Period: 08/26/2011 and continuing. Effective Date: 09/02/2011. Physical Loan Application Deadline Date: 10/31/2011. Economic Injury (EIDL) Loan Application Deadline Date: 05/31/2012.