Executive Office of the President September 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is proposing guidance on drug-free workplace requirements for financial assistance. The guidance conforms with the common rule that 31 Federal agencies published on November 26, 2003 and therefore makes no substantive change to Federal policies and procedures in this area. The agencies issued that common rule after resolving public comments received in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. OMB is proposing to issue this guidance as an administrative simplification that will streamline the policy framework for drug-free workplace requirements in two ways. First, the guidance is in a form suitable for Federal agency adoption, which will reduce the volume of Federal regulations on drug-free workplace, make it easier for the affected public to use them, and make it easier and less expensive for the Federal Government to maintain them. Second, the guidance is located in the recently established Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations (2 CFR). Locating the OMB guidance in 2 CFR will make it easier to find. It also is the first step toward co-locating in the same CFR title the agencies' regulations that implement the guidance, a further simplification for the public. This notice also proposes a minor change to the previously issued 2 CFR part 1, to conform that part with the guidance published today.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requests comments on its Draft 2008 Report to Congress on the Benefits and Costs of Federal Regulation. The full Draft Report is available at https:// www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/regpol-reports_congress.html, and is divided into four chapters. Chapter I examines the benefits and costs of major Federal regulations issued in fiscal year 2007 and summarizes the benefits and costs of major regulations issued between September 1997 and 2007. It also discusses regulatory impacts on State, local, and tribal governments, small business, wages, and economic growth. Chapter II examines trends in regulation since OMB began to compile benefit and cost estimates records in 1981. Chapter III provides an update on implementation of the Information Quality Act, and Chapter IV summarizes agency compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is providing notice that on August 18, 2008, in accordance with the World Trade Organization (``WTO'') Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes (``DSU''), the United States, jointly with Japan and the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, requested the establishment of a dispute settlement panel regarding the tariff treatment accorded by the European Communities (``EC'') and its member States to set-top boxes with a communication function, flat panel displays, and certain multifunctional digital machines. That request may be found at www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS375/8. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is providing notice of country-by-country allocations of the FY 2009 in- quota quantity of the tariff-rate quota for imported raw cane sugar, refined and specialty sugar, and sugar-containing products.