Agencies and Commissions 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Farm Credit Administration (FCA or Agency), through the FCA Board (Board), issued a final rule amending its regulations for Farm Credit System banks and associations to require disclosure of pension benefit and supplemental retirement plans and a discussion of the link between senior officer compensation and performance. In accordance with the law, the effective date of the final rule is 30 days from the date of publication in the Federal Register during which either or both Houses of Congress are in session.

This document amends the Commission's rules to correct grammatical, typographical, and display errors in the United States Table of Frequency Allocations (U.S. Table) and also remove inconsistencies between the non-Federal Table of Frequency Allocations (non-Federal Table) and parts 15 and 90 of the Commission's rules.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has amended its regulations governing size and eligibility for the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. This rule implements provisions of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. The rule addresses ownership, control and affiliation for participants in the SBIR and STTR programs. This includes participants that are majority-owned by multiple venture capital operating companies, private equity firms or hedge funds.

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 USC U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), and as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the National Science Foundation invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this information collection.

Following receipt of a letter dated November 2, 2012 from the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the U.S. International Trade Commission (Commission) has announced its schedule for preparing the eighth update report in investigation No. 332-325, The Economic Effects of Significant U.S. Import Restraints, including the scheduling of a public hearing in connection with this update report for March 19, 2013. This year's report will include a chapter on services' contribution to manufacturing.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (``FACA''), 5 U.S.C. App., and after consultation with the General Services Administration, the Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has determined that renewal of the FDIC Advisory Committee on Economic Inclusion (``the Committee'') is in the public interest in connection with the performance of duties imposed upon the FDIC by law. The Committee has been a successful undertaking by the FDIC and has provided valuable feedback to the agency on important initiatives focused on expanding access to banking services for underserved populations. The Committee will continue to provide advice and recommendations on initiatives to expand access to banking services for underserved populations. The Committee will continue to review various issues that may include, but not be limited to, basic retail financial services such as check cashing, money orders, remittances, stored value cards, short-term loans, savings accounts, and other services to promote asset accumulation and financial stability. The structure and responsibilities of the Committee are unchanged from when it was originally established in November 2006. The Committee will continue to operate in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) announces that it has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for extension of approval of a collection of information associated with the Commission's safety standard for walk- behind power lawn mowers.

Pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (Commission or CPSC) announces that it has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for extension of approval of a collection of information associated with the Commission's safety standard for electrically operated toys and children's articles.

This document sets forth a proposal to amend the FM Table of Allotments, Section 73.202(b) of the Commission's rules. The Commission requests comment on a petition filed by Cochise Media Licenses, LLC, proposing to amend the Table of Allotments by allotting FM Channel 229C3 as a first local service at Dove Creek, Colorado. Channel 229C3 can be allotted at Dove Creek, Colorado, in compliance with the Commission's minimum distance separation requirements, at the proposed reference coordinates: 37-48-05 North Latitude and 108-59-33 West Longitude. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION infra.

The Commission is noticing a recently-filed Postal Service request concerning a contingent pricing arrangement related to an international mail contract. This document invites public comments on the request and addresses several related procedural steps.

This notice advises interested persons that the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (``PBGC'') has received a request from The I.A.M. National Pension Fund National Pension Plan for approval of a plan amendment providing for special withdrawal liability rules. Under Sec. 4203(f) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and PBGC's regulation on Extension of Special Withdrawal Liability Rules, a multiemployer pension plan may, with PBGC approval, be amended to provide for special withdrawal liability rules similar to those that apply to the construction and entertainment industries. Such approval is granted only if PBGC determines that the rules apply to an industry with characteristics that make use of the special rules appropriate and that the rules will not pose a significant risk to PBGC. Before granting an approval, PBGC's regulations require PBGC to give interested persons an opportunity to comment on the request. The purpose of this notice is to advise interested persons of the request and to solicit their views on it.

Summary of Application: Applicants request an Order that would permit (a) series of certain open-end management investment companies to issue shares (``Shares'') redeemable in large aggregations only (``Creation Units''); (b) secondary market transactions in Shares to occur at negotiated market prices; (c) certain series to pay redemption proceeds, under certain circumstances, more than seven days after the tender of Creation Units for redemption; (d) certain affiliated persons of the series to deposit securities into, and receive securities from, the series in connection with the purchase and redemption of Creation Units; and (e) certain registered management investment companies and unit investment trusts outside of the same group of investment companies as the series to acquire Shares.\1\