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

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is providing notice that on April 10, 2007, in accordance with the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO Agreement), the United States requested consultations with respect to (1) Certain measures that restrict trading rights with respect to imported films for theatrical release, audiovisual home entertainment products (e.g., video cassettes and DVDs), sound recordings, and publications (e.g., books, magazines, newspapers, and electronic publications), and (2) certain measures that restrict market access for, or discriminate against, foreign suppliers of distribution services for publications and foreign suppliers of audiovisual services (including distribution services) for audiovisual home entertainment products. That request may be found at https://www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS363/1. 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 that on March 6, 2007, in accordance with the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (WTO Agreement), the United States requested consultations regarding additional and extra additional duties India applies to imports from the United States. India applies these duties to products that include, but are not limited to, imports of wines and distilled spirits. That request may be found at www.wto.org contained in a document designated as WT/DS360/1. USTR invites written comments from the public concerning the issues raised in this dispute.

This notice sets forth the schedule and summary agenda for a meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST), and describes the functions of the Council. Notice of this meeting is required under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Dates and Place: April 24, 2007, Washington, DC. The meeting will be held in Room 100 at the Keck Center of the National Academies at 500 5th St., NW., Washington, DC. Type of Meeting: Open. Further details on the meeting agenda will be posted on the PCAST Web site at: https://www.ostp.gov/PCAST/ pcast.html. Proposed Schedule and Agenda: The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) is scheduled to meet in open session on Tuesday April 24, 2007, at approximately 9 a.m. The co-chairs of the PCAST subcommittee on networking and information technology are tentatively scheduled to lead a discussion on the findings of the PCAST review of the Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Program. The PCAST will hear presentations on modes of interaction between the private sector and traditionally Federally funded research communities. The PCAST also is tentatively scheduled to hear presentations on personalized medicine as part of the Council's study of policy issues associated with realizing the benefits of scientific and technological advances in this area. This session will end at approximately 5 p.m. Additional information and the final agenda will be posted at the PCAST Web site at: https://www.ostp.gov/ PCAST/pcast.html. Public Comments: There will be time allocated for the public to speak on the above agenda items. This public comment time is designed for substantive commentary on PCAST's work topics, not for business marketing purposes. Please submit a request for the opportunity to make a public comment five (5) days in advance of the meeting. The time for public comments will be limited to no more than 5 minutes per person. Written comments are also welcome at any time following the meeting. Please notify Celia Merzbacher, PCAST Executive Director, at (202) 456- 7116, or fax your request/comments to (202) 456-6021.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is hereby publishing the attached memorandum to the heads of executive departments and agencies concerning the determination of the maximum benchmark compensation amount that will be allowable under government contracts during contractors' FY 2007$597,912. This determination is required under Section 39 of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Act (41 U.S.C. 435), as amended. The benchmark compensation amount applies equally to both defense and civilian procurement agencies.

The Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC) is advising the public of a technical malfunction in the e-mail address contained in the original notice requesting comments on considerations relating to the Decision that Members adopted at the Sixth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in December 2005 on duty-free, quota-free (DFQF) market access for the least-developed countries (LDCs). The original notice was published on January 18, 2007 (Federal Register Volume 72, Number 11, pages 2316-2317). Any submission transmitted prior to March 14, 2007 was not received. The malfunction in the email address has been corrected and the TPSC is requesting the public to resubmit any written comments submitted prior to March 14, 2007.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requests comments on its 2007 Draft Report to Congress on the Costs and Benefits of Federal Regulations. The full Draft Report is available at https:// www.whitehouse.gov/omb/inforeg/regpol-reportscongress.html, and is divided into four chapters. Chapter I examines the costs and benefits of major Federal regulations issued in fiscal year 2006 and summarizes the costs and benefits of major regulations issued between September 1996 and 2006. 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 Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small and Minority Business (ITAC-11) will hold a meeting on Monday, March 19, 2007, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The meeting will be closed to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and opened to the public from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.