Department of Defense March 4, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Secretariat has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to review and approve an extension of a currently approved information collection requirement concerning OMB Circular A-119. A request for public comments was published at 69 FR 74504, December 14, 2004. No comments were received. Public comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the FAR, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, TRICARE Management Activity announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performances of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Jacksonville District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hereby cancels its Notice of Intent to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Acme Basin B Discharge Project, as published in Federal Register on Friday, May 24, 2002 (67 FR 36577). The notice is canceled because, during scoping for this project and development of alternatives, it appeared that each of the alternatives would affect the same 410 acres of agricultural lands, converting sugar cane into functional wetlands, resulting in discharge of cleaner water into Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge (WCA-1), increasing the spatial extent of Everglades wetlands and reducing freshwater flows into Lake Worth Lagoon. While all of these effects are environmentally beneficial, the relative magnitude of the impacts in the context of greater Everglades's restoration was determined not to be significant. There are not expected to be any adverse impacts on public health and safety; the affected area (Acme Basin B) is not environmentally unique; the significant WCA-1 wetlands will benefit by a relatively small increment, as will Lake Worth Lagoon. No public controversy related to the proposed alternatives developed during scoping for this project, nor are there high levels of uncertainty, unique or unknown risks associated with the study, nor have surveys revealed the presence of any significant wildlife, cultural resource elements or contaminants. An environmental Assessment will be prepared and coordinated for the proposed action. This document is expected to be available in August 2005.