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

This publication gives notice that the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), through the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), is initiating an environmental review of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement (TPP) between the United States and the other countries currently involved in TPP negotiations. The TPSC is requesting written comments from the public on what should be included in the scope of the environmental review, including the potential environmental effects that might flow from the trade agreement and the potential implications for U.S. environmental laws and regulations. The TPSC is also requesting identification of potential complementarities between trade and environmental objectives such as the promotion of sustainable development. The TPSC also welcomes public views on appropriate methodologies and sources of data for conducting the review. The review will be conducted consistent with the relevant procedures of Executive Order 13141 (64 FR 63169) (Nov. 18, 1999) and its implementing guidelines (65 FR 79442). Persons submitting written comments should provide as much detail as possible on the degree to which the subject matter they propose for inclusion in the review may raise significant environmental issues in the context of the negotiation. Public comments on environmental issues submitted in response to a previous notice (74 FR 66720) requesting comments from the public to assist USTR in formulating positions and proposals with respect to all aspects of the negotiation of a Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement will be taken into account in preparing the environmental review and do not need to be resubmitted.

The Office of Federal Financial Management (OFFM) is amending certain sections of the interim final guidance at 2 CFR part 176 that pertain to international agreements. These amendments reflect changes with respect to U.S. international obligations since the publication of the interim final guidance. Public comments received in response to the

The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office (NNCO), on behalf of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology (NSET) Subcommittee of the Committee on Technology, National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), will hold a workshop on March 30-31, 2010, to provide an open forum to discuss the state-of-the-art of the science related to environmental, health, and safety aspects of nanomaterials in two areas: Risk Management Methods and Ethical, Legal, and Societal Implications (ELSI) of Nanotechnology. Risk Management Methods is one of the five environmental, health, and safety research categories identified in the NSET Subcommittee document Strategy for Nanotechnology-Related Environmental, Health, and Safety Research (https://www.nano.gov/NNI_EHS_Research_Strategy.pdf), which was released February 14, 2008.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (``USTR'') is providing notice that on February 1, 2010, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (``Vietnam'') requested consultations with the United States under the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (``WTO Agreement'') concerning a number of antidumping administrative reviews and new shipper reviews conducted by the Department of Commerce on imports of certain frozen warmwater shrimp from Vietnam (Investigation A-552-801), and various U.S. laws, regulations, administrative procedures, practices, and methodologies. That request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS404/1. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

On February 18, 2010, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced four steps to modernize, reinvigorate, and ease the use and increase the transparency of implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Enacted in 1970, NEPA is a fundamental tool used to harmonize our economic, environmental, and social aspirations and is a cornerstone of our Nation's efforts to protect the environment. NEPA recognizes that many Federal activities affect the environment and mandates that Federal agencies consider the environmental impacts of their proposed actions before acting. Additionally, NEPA emphasizes public involvement in government actions affecting the environment by requiring that the benefits and the risks associated with proposed actions be assessed and publicly disclosed.

On February 18, 2010, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) announced four steps to modernize, reinvigorate, and ease the use and increase the transparency of implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Enacted in 1970, NEPA is a fundamental tool used to harmonize our economic, environmental, and social aspirations and is a cornerstone of our Nation's efforts to protect the environment. NEPA recognizes that many Federal activities affect the environment and mandates that Federal agencies consider the environmental impacts of their proposed actions before acting. Additionally, NEPA emphasizes public involvement in government actions affecting the environment by requiring that the benefits and the risks associated with proposed actions be assessed and publicly disclosed.

With this notice, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) within the Executive Office of the President requests input from the public regarding the consumer interface with the Smart Grid. This Request for Information (RFI) will be active from February 23, 2010 to March 12, 2010. Respondents are invited to respond online via the Smart Grid Forum at https://www.nist.gov/smartgrid/, or may submit responses via electronic mail. Electronic mail responses will be re-posted on the online forum.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is proposing guidance to Federal agencies to implement Section 872 of the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 (Pub. L. 110-417) (hereafter referred to as ``section 872''), as it relates to grants. Section 872 requires: establishment of a Governmentwide data system to contain specified information related to the integrity and performance of certain entities awarded Federal grants and contracts; and use of the information by Federal officials making awards. The proposed implementing guidance for grants also would apply to cooperative agreements, as a matter of Governmentwide policy.

On September 21, 2009, President Barack Obama released his ``Strategy for American Innovation.'' The strategy outlines the Administration's plans to foster innovation for sustainable growth and the creation of high-quality jobs.

A number of trade agreements to which the United States is a party call for the parties to establish rosters of persons available to serve on dispute settlement panels to hear disputes under those agreements. These agreements include the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement, the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (``CAFTA-DR''), the North American Free Trade Agreement (``NAFTA''), and the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement. In some instances, an agreement will call for the establishment of more than one roster. For example, the CAFTA-DR requires the establishment of four rosters of individuals who would be available to serve as panelists in dispute settlement proceedings arising under that agreement: a general roster and rosters for disputes concerning financial services, labor, and environment matters. USTR is inviting interested persons to apply to be on one or more of these several rosters under the various agreements.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has accepted for review a petition to remove certain sleeping bags (HTS9404.30.80) from the list of products eligible for duty-free treatment under the GSP program. This notice sets forth the schedule for submitting comments and review of the petition.