Department of Commerce September 1, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Bureau of the Census is conducting the 2006 Company Organization Survey. The survey's data are needed, in part, to update the multilocation companies in the Business Register. The survey, which has been conducted annually since 1974, is designed to collect information on the number of employees, payroll, geographic location, current operational status, and the type of business for the establishments of multilocation companies. We have determined that annual data collected from this survey are needed to aid the efficient performance of essential governmental functions and have significant application to the needs of the public and industry. The data derived from this survey are not available from any other source.

NMFS announces that the Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has submitted Amendment 16-4 to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for Secretarial review. Amendment 16-4 would modify the FMP to implement revised rebuilding plans for seven overfished species: bocaccio, canary rockfish, cowcod, darkblotched rockfish, Pacific ocean perch, widow rockfish, and yelloweye rockfish. Amendment 16-4 is intended to respond to 9th Circuit Court of Appeals orders to establish rebuilding plans that rebuild overfished stocks as soon as possible, taking into account the status and biology of the stocks, the needs of fishing communities, and the interaction of the overfished stocks within the marine environment.

NOS/OCRM is soliciting coastal and estuarine land conservation acquisition projects from eligible coastal states. The Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) was established ``for the purpose of protecting important coastal and estuarine areas that have significant conservation, recreation, ecological, historical, or aesthetic values, or that are threatened by conversion from their natural or recreational state to other uses.'' This announcement solicits proposals for land acquisition projects, up to 3 years in duration, with the purpose of protecting important coastal and estuarine areas. Project proposals should reflect priorities identified in an approved state CELC plan or, if a state's plan has not been completed, by the state's approved coastal management program. Eligible coastal states may submit up to three project proposals with a requested funding level not to exceed $3,000,000 per project.